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.💬 “One thing I have learned especially from my experience of going through an autoimmune disorder, was that even when things feel really awful with no way out, the only thing to do is just keep pushing forward, get up and just move forward.”All Bits Count (ABC)ABC → www.linkedin.com/company/all-bits-count/Vital Voices Fellowship →www.vitalvoices.org/fellow/mahak-agrawal/Travclan → explore.travclan.com/Bare necessities →barenecessities.in/WonderspacePodcast #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Changemakers

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. 💬 “I decided from that point, to use comedy in service of a message instead of in service to my ego, especially because so much of what people do online is not about creating art or self reflection, it’s about creating content to feed an algorithm, and that for me does not have any nutritional value.  In fact it does the opposite, it feeds addiction to dopamine and getting likes.  I wanted no part of that and wanted to run in the opposite direction and ask people to take a solid look at their relationship with smart phones and social media because ultimately our lives are being manipulated by big tech algorithms that are created to sell ads." Dan brilliantly and entertainingly engages with our six questions that focus on wonder and hopeful stories but will also make you think about your relationship with your smart phone. 📌 Learn more about Dan Fox → danmaxfox.com 📌 Discover The Light Phone → thelightphone.com 💭 How do you navigate your relationship with technology?

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. 🔗 Learn more about Jenny’s work and Escape to Make at escape2make.org 🔗 Watch Jenny's TED Talk - https://youtu.be/5JTH2CqaLvg?si=YhQ7t3AStT3KbJ4O #WonderspacePodcast #JennyNatusch #EscapeToMake #CreativityUnplugged #YouthEmpowerment #EverydayWonders #HopeInAction

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. 🎧 Listen now: ⁠https://spti.fi/ws142⁠ 🔗 Antidote: https://www.antidotelive.studio/ 🔗 Rubber Republic: https://www.rubberrepublic.com/ 🔗 Sea, Land & City: https://www.waterbear.com/watch/sea-land-city 🌍 How does your community inspire you? Share your stories with us! 🌍 #WonderspacePodcast #MattGolding #CommunityPower #Antidote #SustainableFuture #SeaLandCity #HopeInAction

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. 🎧 Listen now: https://spti.fi/ws142 🔗 More about Jon Salmon: https://www.jon-salmon.com/ 🔗 Red January: https://join.redjanuary.com/🔗 Heads Together: https://www.headstogether.org.uk 🔗 Let's talk about loss: letstalkaboutloss.org 🔗 View the episode page with links to resources: https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_142 🌍 How do you find hope during challenging times? Share your thoughts below! 🌍 #WonderspacePodcast #JonSalmon #MentalHealthAwareness #RedJanuary #SocialImpact #PodcastCommunity #CapeTown

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.🎧 Listen now: https://spti.fi/ws141 🔗 Learn more about Fergus and his work: https://www.countryfile.com/podcast 🔗 View the episode page with more info: https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_140 🔗 Re-wonder: https://asknature.org/strategy/fruit-skin-has-bright-blue-pointillist-appearance/ 🌿 What’s your favourite place to reconnect with nature? Share in the comments below! 🌿#WonderspacePodcast #FergusCollins #NatureLovers #Rewilding #Conservation #NatureSounds #HopeInNature #PodcastCommunity #Sustainability #BBC

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 🎧 To listen to the previous 139 Wonderspace editions go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes --------------Re-wonder: https://asknature.org/strategy/protein-binds-permanently/--------------More about Wonderspace: https://ourwonder.space Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBUt53ifgsf4Hu9tQTWjEmA/videos Facebook: http://facebook.com/ourwonderspace Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourwonderspace Twitter: https://twitter.com/ourwonderspace LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/our-wonderspace/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ourwonderspace ---------------Music: https://theade.me