Live conversations with people whose lives are shaped by interconnectedness. On what makes us feel alive, and pulse with the breath of life.
How would our life and decisions change if we could experience interconnectedness—not just intellectually, but in our bones? With fellow humans and other beings in this tapestried world.
Connect with me: https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about
Live conversations with people whose lives are shaped by interconnectedness. On what makes us feel alive, and pulse with the breath of life.
How would our life and decisions change if we could experience interconnectedness—not just intellectually, but in our bones? With fellow humans and other beings in this tapestried world.
Connect with me: https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about
In this episode of the Breath of Life podcast, Yulia talks with Wendy Peterman, a forest soil scientist and conservationist with over 20 years of experience working in land management and environmental systems.
We explore what forests can teach us about regeneration, resilience, and working with complexity rather than against it. The conversation moves between science and lived experience touching on nature connection, empathy, leadership, conservation work, and what happens when human systems forget they are part of living systems.
00:00 Growing up in forests and early belonging
04:20 Nature connection and “nature deficit disorder”
07:40 Soil, humus, and the role of decomposition
10:30 Forests as home, regulation, and perspective
14:10 Complexity, interdependence, and forest systems
18:00 Science, empathy, and holistic thinking
22:45 Human systems vs. living systems
27:05 Leadership, listening, and adaptability
31:20 Forests, resilience, and learning from failure
35:30 Apex predators, balance, and power
41:45 Disconnection, domination, and modern culture
46:00 Forest Thinking and practical applications
52:10 Closing reflections
Wendy Peterman is a forest soil scientist and conservationist with more than two decades of experience working in land management and environmental systems. She grew up in the forests of Northern California and has spent her career studying soil, forest ecology, and complex living systems. Today, she supports grassroots and conservation organizations in developing resilient structures that honor relationship, balance, and regeneration. She is the author of Forest Thinking.
→ Wendy on Substack: https://substack.com/@wendybrd
→ Pattern Synthesis webpage: https://patternsynthesis.com/
Stay in touch:
→ The Breath of Life on Substack
https://substack.com/@yuliabogdanova
→ Connect on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliabogdanova/
→ 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/
In this episode, Yulia talks with Elina Kieft, a Qigong teacher, a shamanic practitioner, dancer, and anthropologist.
They explore the body as a place of knowing, a bridge between self and nature. Elina shares her journey from dance and anthropology to Qigong and shamanic work, and how movement, breath, and imagination connect us to the life force that flows through all things. The conversation touches on animism, embodied consciousness, empathy, archetypes, and the wisdom of trees and animals as teachers.
00:00 The Body as a Place of Knowing
05:40 Dance, Nature, and Early Curiosity
10:30 Remembering Lost Senses and Intuitive Knowing
15:40 Sensitivity, Pain, and Living in a Human Body
20:05 The Alchemy of Qigong
26:15 Animals, Elements, and Seasons as Teachers
31:10 Shape-shifting and Embodied Empathy
34:20 Archetypes as Patterns of Energy
37:25 The Body’s Literacy and Ways of Perceiving
43:30 Learning Through the Body
45:30 Simple Practices to Reconnect — The Wisdom of Trees
About the guest:
Elina Kleft is a shamanic practitioner, dancer, anthropologist, and Qigong teacher. Born in the Netherlands and having lived across Europe and Africa, she brings together movement, nature connection, and embodied awareness. Her work explores how breath, body, and imagination can open us to a deeper relationship with the world. She teaches Qigong, mentors individuals, and leads programs that draw on movement, archetypes, and the natural elements.
→ Eline on Substack: https://elinekieft.substack.com/
→ Eline’s webpage: https://www.elinekieft.com/
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/
In this episode, I join hosts Lisa and Ryan on the Synergy podcast to explore a familiar topic—innovation and leadership—through an unfamiliar lens: nature as a catalyst for transformation.
I share a pivotal experience training with Wim Hof (the Iceman)—climbing a Polish mountain in −15 °C—and how breathwork, somatic practice, and time in wilderness reshaped my understanding of change, creativity, and leadership.
🌱 What We Explore
Emergent innovation vs. “hero” brainstorming: why sensing, play, and co-creation often outpace overthinking.
Being like water: embracing fluid identities, cross-pollination, and regeneration over rigid image-keeping.
Pattern recognition in the wild: how nature’s systems inspire product, team, and organizational design.
Restorative routines: sitting to “seed” place, taking unstructured walks, and storytelling to restore focus and presence.
AI and the natural mind: how technology can flatten ideas—and how natural systems (birch, fungi, watersheds) can help us think in living patterns.
💡 Why It Matters
If you’re a leader, innovator, or systems thinker ready to trade pressure for presence—and compliance for commitment—this conversation explores how the natural world can become a powerful co-creator and R&D partner in the way we work and lead.
→ Synergy Podcast:
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/
In this episode, Yulia talks with Charlotte Rogg, a death doula, artist, and educator exploring the cycles of nature, grief, and renewal.
Charlotte talks about what the seasons can teach us about living and dying — how change, decay, and rest are all part of the same cycle. She shares ways to notice the world through the senses, to find meaning in darkness, and to let winter and stillness do their work. We also talk about death care, grief, and belonging, and how staying close to the natural world can help us meet all of it with more courage and resilience.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Death and Nature
07:21 The Role of Mushrooms in Life and Death
10:56 Understanding Seasons Through a Death Doula's Lens
16:14 Navigating Life Transitions with Seasonal Awareness
21:19 Embracing Darkness and Winter
26:42 The Importance of Community in Seasonal Changes
32:02 Launching the Mail Club for Seasonal Connection
About the guest
Charlotte Rogg is a death doula, artist, and educator based in Boston. She works with people around death, grief, and change, and explores how the natural world mirrors those experiences. Charlotte sees her work as a way of staying close to the rhythm of life — noticing how everything moves through cycles of growth, stillness, loss, and renewal, and helping others find their own way of being with that.
→ Charlotte on Substack: https://metamorphosisworks.substack.com/
→ Charlotte’s webpage: https://www.charlotterogg.com/
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/
In this episode, Yulia talks with Kath Almond, an Earth influencer and Syntropic storyteller, exploring the kinship-like connection between humans and nature, particularly through the lens of trees. Kath shares her journey from climate activism to a more uniting approach of storytelling for the love of the Earth. We talk about trees as ancient intelligent beings, the wisdom they have for us, and practical ways to reconnect with the rest of nature through them.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Earth Influencing and Syntropic Storytelling
04:34 The Essence of Syntropic Storytelling
09:10 The Connection with Trees
15:13 Intimacy and Trust in Relationships with Trees
22:05 The Magic of Tree Communication
28:11 Stories of Trees and Their Wisdom
34:29 Reconnecting with Nature and Belonging
About the guest
Kath Almond is an Earth influencer and Syntropic storyteller based between Germany and Aotearoa, New Zealand. After a career in marketing, she left the corporate world to speak for her love of Mother Earth, telling stories that inspire togetherness.
→ Kath on Substack: https://substack.com/@earthinfluencer
→ Kath’s webpage: https://earthinfluencers.org/
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/
In this episode, Yulia talks with philologist, philosopher, and writer Eugene Terekhin about the energy and other unseen powers of spoken language.
They explore how words are more than data, how sound shapes matter, why language can act like spells, and how Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the Inklings saw language as a doorway into the unseen. The conversation weaves together philosophy, creativity, spirituality, and practices for re-enchanting our daily lives.
00:00 The Energy of Spoken Language
06:49 Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the Inklings on Language
11:16 Words as Living Energy
16:00 Attunement and Sensing Through Language
22:20 Magic, Technology, and Elvish Tongues
30:59 Sub-creation and Creativity
39:01 Prayer as Breath and Response
43:45 Words as Spells
47:09 Re-enchantment Practices
About the guest
Eugene Terekhin is a philologist, philosopher, and translator with a background in English and German linguistics and philology. Author of Eleven Hidden Gems in the Works of the Inklings: The Music of Iluvatar in the Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Owen Barfield
→ Eugine on Substack: https://eugeneterekhin.substack.com/
→ Eugine’s bookstore: https://restandtrust.org/
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/
In this episode, Yulia talks with writer and teacher Perdita Finn, author of Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and the forthcoming Mothers of Magic: Summoning the Wisdom of Our Ancestors.
They explore death, our relationship with the dead, and how reconnecting with ancestors can transform grief and fear into belonging and love. The conversation weaves together ecology, ritual, intuition, and everyday practices for living with the dead as companions and guides.
00:00 Death as Part of Life
06:20 Civilization, Fear, and Separation from the Dead
13:45 Cycles of Return and Ecological Belonging
21:30 Asking the Dead for Help
31:15 Grief, Ritual, and Letting Go
38:40 What Failure Teaches Through the Dead
45:10 From Fear to Faith
49:30 Resources and Closing Reflections
About the guest:
Perdita Finn is the author of Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and the forthcoming Mothers of Magic: Summoning the Wisdom of Our Ancestors. She describes the dead themselves as her teachers — offering guidance with a perspective that is long, generous, intimate, and deeply loving. Through her writing, workshops, and courses, she helps people learn to “see with the eyes of the dead” while still alive, transforming grief, deepening connection, and rewilding our spiritual lives.
→ Perdita on Substack: https://perditafinn.substack.com/
→ Way of the Rose Community: https://wayoftherose.org/
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/
In this episode, Yulia talks with coach and writer Mark McCartney, creator of What is a Good Life? and the Silent Conversations series.
They explore how silence changes group dynamics, and allows for deeper presence and unexpected connection.
Chapters:
00:00 Exploring Silence and Connection
04:03 The Power of Shared Silence
10:24 Words and Their Meanings
16:13 The Nature of Human Connection
21:34 Embracing Our Animalistic Nature
26:17 Paying Attention to Life's Intelligence
28:33 Simplicity in Life's Complexity
31:02 Defining a Good Life
About the guest:
Mark McCartney is a coach, writer, and podcast host based in Berlin, originally from Dublin. He’s the creator of the What Is a Good Life? project, which includes nearly 300 interviews, a podcast, and a forthcoming book. He also leads Silent Conversations—sessions designed to move beyond labels, roles, and constant talking, and into presence, attention, and shared experience.
→ Mark on Substack: https://www.whatisagood.life/
→ Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/
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/
In this Life in Flow episode, I spoke with Kat van Oudheusden about non-duality—the idea that the “separate self” we work so hard to manage might not be real. And on ways to step beyond the illusion of a separate self.
Time codes:
00:00 Introduction & What Is Non-Duality?
06:00 The Illusion of Separation
09:00 Awareness and the Nature of Reality
14:57 Leadership and Letting Go of Control
20:55 Thinking, Identity & the Role of Inquiry
27:13 Living Beyond the Illusion
32:58 Final Reflections & Closing
🔗 Links & Resources:
→ Kat on Substack: https://dailynonduality.substack.com/
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/
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/
Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.