Stories for the future

What happens when climate change itself becomes a censored word?In this episode, I speak with Tom Schueneman - journalist, blogger, podcaster, and longtime climate communicator behind GlobalWarmingisReal.com. For more than 20 years, Tom has been on the frontlines of climate communication, documenting how politics, disinformation, and propaganda shape the public’s understanding of science.📌 Note: This conversation was recorded in May. Since then (now August), U.S. politics have shifted even further—making our discussion even more timely and relevant.We explore:How climate data and language are being censored in the U.S.Why defunding science puts lives at riskThe playbook of disinformation (from tobacco to climate denial)Why independent journalism is essential right nowHow to hold on to hope while facing hard truths👉 Explore more of Tom’s work at GlobalWarmingisReal.com and his Substack.Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.comLinks referenced in this episode:globalwarmingisreal.comvklavens.substack.comstoriesforthefuture.comMentioned in this episode:Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

🎉 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL!What if the key to solving the climate crisis isn’t just better tech, but better people leading with courage, compassion, and connection?To mark five years of Stories for the Future, I’m joined by the brilliant Dina Hestad from cCHANGE, a social enterprise helping people and organizations create deep, lasting, and ethical transformation. Dina has spent the past two decades working across the globe, from climate negotiations at the UN to field work in the Marshall Islands, uncovering the root causes of our biggest crises.In this episode, we explore:Why traditional approaches to the energy transition are falling shortThe power of values-based leadership and systems changeWhat makes the new Energiomstillerne program so timely and uniqueHow individuals, no matter their title, can lead powerful transformations👉 Interested in the program? Learn more about Energiomstillerne here (offered in Norwegian)✨ Whether you’re in the energy sector, local government, academia, or just deeply passionate about the green shift—this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and ready to rethink your role in the transition.Connect with Dina on LinkedInLearn more about cCHANGEListen to episode 93, with Karen O'Brien and Idun Aunde about the Transformational Leadership for Sustainability ProgramWant to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Welcome back to Stories for the Future! After a rejuvenating summer break, I'm launching the new season with a guest who embodies everything this podcast is about: purpose, impact, and bold reinvention.Meet Oliver Dauert, founder of Wildya, a venture helping ecopreneurs transform their love for nature into scalable, regenerative impact. Oliver’s journey took him from childhood fascination with nature to eco-anxiety and corporate disillusionment – and ultimately to building one of the most forward-thinking nature-first platforms out there.In this conversation, we explore:🌿 Oliver’s personal transformation from a business student in a broken system to an “impact millionaire” in the making💡 Why business schools fail to prepare leaders for a nature-positive future🔥 The real traits that set successful ecopreneurs apart (hint: pragmatism beats perfection)💰 Why money isn’t evil – and how it becomes a tool for regeneration💔 The emotional toll of working in the climate and biodiversity space – and how Oliver channels grief into motivation🐾 What it really takes to scale nature impact in a capitalistic worldWhether you're an ecopreneur, solopreneur, or just someone dreaming of a wilder, better world – this episode is for you.📌 Learn more about Oliver’s work: WildyaLinkedIn📩 Let me know what resonated with you most – connect on LinkedIn or leave a review!Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com and on SubstackMentioned in this episode:Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

🔍 Episode Summary:What if job hunting wasn’t the answer?In this episode, Keith Anderson from Career Alchemy shares how to stop searching and start being found, even in a tough job market. We talk about back-channeling, personal branding, storytelling, and how to build long-term career resilience in an AI-shifting landscape.🔗 Links & Resources:💼 Connect with Keith: Career Alchemy and LinkedIn📣 Stay Connected:Follow along on Substack or visit the website for tools, reflections, and upcoming episodes.Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.comMentioned in this episode:Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

What happens when curiosity leads you toward a big change – but your bank account doesn’t agree? In this solo episode, I share a personal story from the early days of starting my own business, and how a surprisingly unglamorous Plan B gave me the freedom to explore a new direction. You’ll hear why having a buffer matters, how to calculate your minimum viable income, and why your Plan B doesn’t have to be perfect – just practical.Whether you’re shifting careers, launching something new, or simply testing the waters of change, this episode will help you think through the financial side of creativity and courage.🔑 In This Episode:Why curiosity alone isn’t enough in a career pivotThe story behind my freelance translator “Plan B”What a buffer really is – and why it gives you creative oxygenHow to calculate your Minimum Viable IncomeReframing “the worst-case scenario” to reduce fearHow to create space for learning, growth, and sustainable change🛠️ Resources Mentioned:The Quiet Pivot Companion PackMy SubstackWant to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

🌍 What This Episode Is AboutIn this episode, we explore the Transformational Leadership for Sustainability (TLFS) program – a unique and powerful approach to leadership that begins not with strategy, but with self-awareness and values. Together with co-founder Karen O’Brien and alumna Idun Aune, we discuss how this values-based program helps people from all walks of life activate their full potential to lead change from the inside out. If you’re looking for a deeper, more integrated way to make a difference, this one’s for you.🔑 Key TakeawaysYou matter more than you think – Lasting change starts with who you are, not just what you doThree spheres of transformation – Practical (actions), Political (systems), Personal (values & beliefs)TLFS is experiential, not just theoretical – You work on a real-life initiative while practicing in communityValues-based leadership fuels resilience – When your work aligns with your values, energy and impact increaseThe personal is not optional – Bringing your whole self to your work creates deeper, systemic changeMeetings can be rituals – Simple shifts in how we meet and check in with each other can create lasting culture changeIt's for everyone – TLFS is sector-agnostic and globally relevant – whether you're in business, education, design, or activismCollective agency matters – True transformation comes from individuals working together, grounded in shared values📅 Next TLFS Program Starts: September 20253 in-person modules (Oslo area) + weekly peer triadsThemes: Being the Change | Designing Change | Leading ChangeOpen to international participants (English-language program)Hosted in a beautiful nature setting outside Oslo📚 Links and Resources🔗 TLFS Program Info & RegistrationcCHANGE📘 Karen O’Brien’s Book: You Matter More Than You Think🌐 Respira – Planet-Centric Design and Strategyhttps://www.respira.no📧 Contact– Idun Aune on LinkedIn– Karen O’Brien on LinkedIn✨ Want More Future-Friendly Content?💌 Substack Newsletter🎧 Quiet Pivot Companion Pack🌍 All My WorkWant to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.Mentioned in this episode:Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

When I left oil and gas – or rather, when the door slammed behind me – I thought I needed a plan immediately. Instead, I discovered something far more valuable: the power of following small sparks of curiosity.In this episode, I share why curiosity became my compass during one of the foggiest periods of my life, and how it can become yours too.What I Cover:How curiosity literally rewires your brain for learning and adaptationWhy following random interests feels unproductive but creates the path forwardThe science behind curiosity as a tool for overcoming fear and paralysisSimple questions I used (and still use) to identify what truly draws me inMy Key Message: When everything feels uncertain, give yourself permission to not know the whole path. Just get curious about the next step.Resources Mentioned:TED Talk: "How to Find Work You Love"The Quiet Pivot Companion Pack with curiosity exercises and spark-discovery tools. Get it as here, or signing up as a paying subscriber to my Substack.Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

My guest today is Laurel Colless, a sustainability writer, kids' science fantasy novelist, and founder of the Carbon Busters Club, a climate-science adventure program for children. With over 25 years of experience working in environmental business and journalism across Asia, the US, and Europe, she combines her expertise in sustainability and technology communications with her passion for education and storytelling. As an Al Gore Climate Reality Leader, Laurel's work spans ESG reporting, stakeholder engagement strategies, and creating new mythologies for today’s youth that reflect the climate challenges of their generation.🔑 TakeawaysHow Laurel uses science-fantasy to turn climate anxiety into playful wonder—and real-world action.The origin story behind her eco-adventure series: boarding school for climate-defenders with sea‑demon villains!Why kids—and grown-ups—need imaginative narratives to make sense of climate change.How her global journey through journalism, sustainability, and folklore informed her fiction and climate teaching.LaurelColless.com – Find all her books, background story, and sign-up for her newsletter For more ways to dive deeper into tomorrow’s stories, check out vklavenes.substack.com and storiesforthefuture.com for essays, tools, and behind‑the‑scenes.Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.comMentioned in this episode:CS shortThanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

Welcome back to The Quiet Pivot, my mini series for those in-between chapters—the ones where the old outfit doesn’t fit, but the new one isn’t quite tailored yet. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own pivotal transition: from a well-paid, intellectually stimulating geophysics career in oil and gas to my current role as a bridge builder for meaningful, sustainable futures.Episode Highlights:The Sandpaper Feeling: I introduce my signature term for that subtle, persistent friction between who you want to be and how your work feels. This isn’t burnout or boredom, but a quiet signal that something’s out of sync.Society’s Labels & Black-or-White Thinking: From colleagues who couldn’t understand walking away to outsiders judging my industry, I explore the challenge of moving forward when everyone wants to put you in a box. Is your past a liability, or can it be a launching pad for positive change?Reframing the Pivot: Rather than running from my past, I chose to move toward what aligns with my strengths, curiosity, and values. I explain why chasing what energizes you is so much more sustainable than fleeing what drains you.Resources & Links:Read more about the science of fun and access my pivot tools at vklavenes.substack.comExplore additional resources at storiesforthefuture.com/pivotWant to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.comLinks referenced in this episode:vklavnest.substack.comstoriesforthefuture.com/pivot

What if the chaos of our times isn’t just something to survive, but a doorway into your own growth? In this week's episode, I talk with Tom Meyers, osteopath, futurist, musician (!), and author of Futurize Yourself and The Future's Effect.Tom shares how his personal journey - from suicidal burnout to finding a future-focused mission - led him to develop a unique method for helping people reset their nervous systems, reconnect with their inner compass, and thrive through transition. We explore:Why your personal “DNA for the future” matters more than any job titleHow stress shows up in the body (and what to do about it)The future mindset that helps you adapt without burning outPractical tips for calming your nervous system—plus how partners can support each other in the processWhether you're mid-pivot, feeling overwhelmed, or just craving a more grounded way to face the future, this one's for you.🔗 Connect with Tom Meyers:🌍 Website: www.futurizeyourself.com🌐 Therapy site: https://meyerstom.weebly.com/🎵 Music project (Fitfull): Search “Fitfull” on your favorite music platform📱LinkedIn: Tom Meyers🧰 Want support for your own pivot?Alongside my new podcast mini-series (released every Monday), I’ve created the Quiet Pivot Companion Pack - a gentle, practical tool to help you reflect, realign, and take the next steps in your own career or identity shift.💌 Get it as a bonus when you become a paying subscriber at vklavenes.substack.com, or buy it directly here. 🌿 More from me:Website: www.storiesforthefuture.comSubstack: vklavenes.substack.comLet me know what resonated, or share your own story. I always love hearing from you.Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com