Stories for the future

In this episode I sit down with Charles Odom, solo founder of Painted Circle, a purpose-driven travel platform that’s reimagining how we book — and experience — travel. Charles shares why being intentional with our travel choices matters now more than ever, how the traditional tourism model is broken, and what it means to travel in a way that benefits both you and the communities you visit. You’ll also hear the story behind Painted Circle, the surprising economics of travel commissions, and why travel can be one of the most powerful tools we have in a divided world. This is the first episode in a new mini-series spotlighting members of Creative Space — a global community for solopreneurs, coaches and creatives. 💡 What We Talk About: The meaning of intentional travel The hidden costs of online booking platforms Why Painted Circle doesn’t take commissions from tour operators How to create travel memories that truly last The ups and downs of solopreneurship — and the power of community 🔗 Links & Resources: 🌍 Painted Circle – Travel with Purpose 💸 Use code STORIES for a discount on the Travel Pass 🧠 Creative Space Community 🎙️ Learn more about the podcast: storiesforthefuture.com 📝 Subscribe to Veslemøy’s newsletter: vklavenes.substack.com 🗣️ Let’s Connect: If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or drop me a message. I’d love to hear your thoughts — and your own stories of intentional travel. Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

Geothermal at GeoEnergy 2025, Bergen, Norway A special episode recorded in Bergen, Norway Did you know the heat beneath our feet could power communities almost anywhere in the world? In this episode, I take you with me to GeoEnergy 2025, a conference dedicated entirely to geothermal energy — from shallow systems to deep wells and next-generation closed-loop designs. I share my own journey into geothermal, what I learned at the conference, and short conversations with people working across the field. If you’re curious about geothermal or work in oil & gas and wonder how your subsurface skills can transfer: this one’s for you. 🔊 Voices from the Episode Featuring short interviews and insights from: Bjarte Lønøy, GEAN – Geothermal Energy Association of Norway Kirsti Midttømme, NORCE Kim Gunn Maver, Green Therma Jesper Moberg, Norsk Retningsboring Øystein Klemetsdal, SINTEF Digital What You’ll Learn What geothermal energy actually is (in simple language) Why Norway has huge potential — and big drilling challenges New closed-loop systems (“underground thermos bottles”) How oil & gas skills translate directly into geothermal Why visibility, communication, and scale matter How digital twins can accelerate deployment 💛 Thank You Huge thanks to GEAN, and especially Bjarte Lønøy and Kirsti Midttømme, for welcoming me into the geothermal community at GeoEnergy 2025. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone curious about the future of energy. 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

🎙️ Episode: Get Off the Fence – Leadership Lessons for a Warming World What happens when leadership replaces drama with disciplined choice? This week, I sit down with Charles Sheppard — author, professor of leadership, and founder of World Bridge University — to explore how systems thinking can help us move from confusion to clarity in the face of climate change. Charlie has spent decades helping people and organizations escape the Drama Triangle — the cycle of Victim, Rescuer, and Adversary — and replace it with The Leadership Triangle: Visionary, Catalyst, and Coach. Now he’s applying that same framework to the climate crisis. We talk about why so many people still sit on the fence, how disinformation and social media shape our beliefs, and what it means to lead — in our families, workplaces, and communities — when the stakes couldn’t be higher. 💬 In this episode: Why leadership and systems thinking are key to tackling the climate crisis How to reach the “middle 60%” who still sit on the fence The role of language, storytelling, and education in climate communication What we can learn from his new venture, World Bridge University How AI (and even biotech!) fit into his vision for a better future 🌍 About Charles Sheppard Charles Sheppard is a Professor of Leadership, author of Get Off the Fence and Save Your Drama for Your Mama, and founder of World Bridge University. He’s also the cofounder of Arjuna Therapeutics, a biotech company developing breakthrough cancer treatments — and a passionate advocate for systems thinking, education reform, and climate leadership. 🪴 Connect with Charles Website Book: Get Off the Fence – Amazon LinkedIn World Bridge University Arjuna Therapeutics 🌟 If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or colleague who’s ready to get off the fence. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe to Stories for the Future on your favorite platform — or join me on Substack for behind-the-scenes reflections and future fluency insights. 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

In this special episode of Stories for the Future, I moderate a panel at the Beyond Oil Conference 2025: Changing Climate Futures conference in Bergen. Our theme: Actionable Hope in a Changing Climate Future. We talk about what hope does when the world feels like it’s unraveling — and what it looks like when hope becomes something you act on. In this episode you’ll hear voices from science, media, creative arts and strategy — and come away with ideas for how to lean into hope, not just as a feeling, but as a modality of change. 👥 Panel & Conference Links Here are the people on the panel and links to their work so you can dive deeper: Kikki Flesche Kleiven — Director of the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen. Marine geologist by training; leads a large interdisciplinary climate‑research centre. Petter Gulli — Founder & Chief Hope Officer at 12YEARS; an outspoken climate optimist, strategist and author of HOPE – A practical guide for climate optimists. Thea Emilie Maubach‑Vindnes — Spokesperson for the media initiative Verdens Beste Nyheter (“The World’s Best News”), and also affiliated with the civil‑society group Changemaker. Verdens beste nyheter Anne Beate Hovind — Chair of the Future Library project. This is a century‑long literary/art project where 1,000 trees were planted in Nordmarka, and each year one author contributes a manuscript, to be published in 2114. About the project: https://www.futurelibrary.no/ futurelibrary.no Conference reference: Beyond Oil 2025: Changing Climate Futures — An interdisciplinary, international biennial conference hosted by the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET) at the University of Bergen. Conference website: https://www.uib.no/en/cet/173079/beyond-oil-2025-changing-climate-futures 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

What comes to mind when you hear mining? Pollution? Destruction? Now add the word sustainable — does it feel contradictory? In this episode, I speak with Donna Kitsos, a Singapore-based expert in global markets, energy, and innovation, about what sustainable mining actually means. With a background in coal trading and a career now focused on climate tech and circular solutions, Donna shares how mining is evolving — and why it’s more important than ever to understand that shift. 🔑 Key Topics What “sustainable mining” really means How innovation is reshaping extraction and supply chains The role of AI, biomining, recycling, and circular systems Why collaboration and transparency are key to progress 👤 About Donna Kitsos Donna has 20+ years in financial/physical commodities, venture, and energy innovation. Today, she works with early-stage technologies that transform mining and sustainability from the ground up. Learn more: prospectinnovation.com World Economic Forum’s UpLink Mining Challenge Donna on LinkedIn 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 or vklavenes.substack.com

In this episode of Stories for the Future, I’m joined by storyteller, game designer, and creative force Dain Saint — someone who doesn’t just talk about change, but invites people to practice it through immersive storytelling, collaborative world-building, and art. We recorded this conversation a few months ago, but it feels even more relevant today. Especially in a time of political tension, uncertainty, and fear, we talk about how imagination, empathy, and interactive experiences can help us stay connected — and prepare us for the future we actually want to live in. Dain also shares insights from his work in journalism, immersive theatre, and game design — including how changing what it means to “win” the game can fundamentally shift how we live and lead. We talk about: What interactive storytelling really is — and why it matters The role of empathy in imagining better futures Practicing democracy through games (!) What it feels like to live through turbulent times in the US The difference between truth and honesty Why art, play, and participation are vital right now 🔗 Links & Resources: Learn more about Dain’s work on his website. Reckless Magic Connect with me and find more episodes at storiesforthefuture.com Subscribe to my newsletter on Substack 💬 If this episode spoke to you… Please consider sharing it with someone you think would enjoy it — and leave a quick rating or review on your podcast platform. It really helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners like 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

What if solving climate change starts with better conversations, not just better tech? In this episode, I talk with Tessa Hartman, a climate anthropologist and facilitator, about why culture shapes how we perceive and respond to climate challenges. We explore how empathy, social norms, and smart design can unlock new ways of working together – even across deep divides. 🎙️ In this episode: What a “climate anthropologist” actually does How culture, identity, and worldview shape climate action The power of asking why in tough conversations UX design meets sustainability – making solutions people actually want to use Bridge-building between “opposing” groups Lessons from Norway’s first national Citizen Assembly on climate and wealth 🔗 Resources mentioned: Tessa Hartman on LinkedIn Klimaantropologen (in Norwegian) The Future Panel / Citizen Assembly (English site) Book: Humankind by Rutger Bregman Climate designer Katie Patrick Stories for the Future Veslemøy’s Substack 🙌 If you enjoyed this episode: Share it with someone who cares about climate, culture, or community. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple or Spotify – it helps more than you know! 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

Do you ever feel like you’re too many things at once – curious about everything, yet unsure how it all fits together? In this episode, I sit down with writer, speaker, and community-builder Charlie Rogers, whose upcoming book Undefinable Life Design offers a much-needed framework for those of us who resist being put in a box. Charlie shares: What it means to live “intentionally beyond conventional labels” His framework forundefinable life design The power of embracing a semi-professional approach to your many interests How to identify your Golden Thread – the through-line that connects everything you love The emotional (and practical) work of leaving identities behind His wild ultra-marathon and what it taught him about self-trust The values that define his community of “undefinables” Whether you’re a creative generalist, a multi-hyphenate, or just someone with 96 browser tabs open at once, this conversation is your permission to stop choosing and start integrating. 🔗 Resources & Mentions: Charlie’s newsletter & updates on his upcoming book The Portfolio Collective – where we first connected Charlie's LinkedIn Website: Undefinable Life Design 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 vklavenes.substack.com Mentioned in this episode: Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

In this episode, I sit down with Morgan DeNicola, Executive Director of the DeNicola Family Foundation, to explore how curiosity, humor, and empathy can create bridges across even the most polarized divides. We talk about her journey from special education into international diplomacy, what it really means to listen, and how she stays grounded while working on everything from orphanages to conservation projects to cross-cultural negotiation. 🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn: How Morgan transitioned from teaching to global diplomacy The overlooked link between classrooms and cross-cultural negotiation Why true diplomacy begins with setting your own ego aside How to build bridges with people you disagree with — without shrinking yourself What it means to truly listen (and why most of us don’t) The “swinging pendulum” of mental health in mission-driven work Why conservation work can bring unlikely allies together 🛠️ Resources & Mentions: The deNicola Family Foundation Elmwood Park Zoo The Humpty Dumpty Institute Morgan on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok 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

In this episode, I’m joined by executive coach and strategic advisor Sylvana Rochet, who works with founders, CXOs, and visionary leaders at companies like Slack, Tesla, Netflix, and Apple. We talk about how to lead through uncertainty without losing your purpose — and yourself. Sylvana shares: What conscious leadership looks like in times of crisis How to manage identity shifts during career pivots Her “Three Cs” framework for navigating big transitions Why emotional intelligence is the most underrated leadership skill Connect with Sylvana Rochet: 🌐 Website: https://www.elanvital.co/ 🎙️ Podcast: Life by Intention Podcast (Listen here) 🔗 LinkedIn: Sylvana Rochet More from Veslemøy: 💌 Newsletter & blog: vklavenes.substack.com 🌿 Website & podcast hub: storiesforthefuture.com 🎧 This episode was made possible with support from Creative Space – a brilliant community of coaches, creatives, and solopreneurs who inspire and support my work daily. Mentioned in this episode: Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com