Virtual Walk Talk Listen with Maria Modigh (episode 138)
Summary
TLDRIn this insightful episode of 'Walk, Talk, Listen,' host Maurice Bloom engages in a profound conversation with Maria Mudik, a former COO and current board member of the 29k Foundation. Maria, originally from Greece but raised in Scotland, shares her journey from a career in law to her work with the United Nations and eventually to social entrepreneurship. The discussion delves into the mission of the 29k Foundation, which is to advocate for and integrate science-based skills and qualities that lead to purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives. Maria highlights the importance of inner development and its role in addressing global challenges. The podcast also touches on the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), a framework for personal growth and societal improvement, and the need for collective action across various initiatives to create a better future. Maria emphasizes the impact of individual actions and the power of kindness, leaving listeners with a call to reflect on their purpose and consider how they can contribute positively to the world.
Takeaways
- 🌐 The mission of the Inner Development Goals (IDG) is to advocate, facilitate, and integrate science-based skills and qualities that help individuals live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives, aiming to bring the power of inner development to address global challenges faced by humanity.
- 🎓 Maria Mudik, originally from Greece, grew up in Scotland and has lived in various European cities. Her multicultural background influenced her worldview and career choices, emphasizing the importance of cultural diversity and interconnectedness.
- 📚 Maria's educational journey began in law, transitioning through various roles, including working for a global law firm and the UN, before focusing on social entrepreneurship, reflecting her quest for purpose and contribution to society.
- 💡 The 29k Foundation, co-founded by Maria, developed the 'Aware' app, which has had a significant impact on mental well-being, providing tools equivalent to several therapy sessions for many users, and was recognized as a 'Best Hidden Gem' by Google in 2023.
- 🤝 The 29k Foundation operates on a nonprofit and open-source model, emphasizing the importance of providing free and accessible mental well-being tools to as many people as possible, aiming to improve global decision-making and problem-solving.
- 🌿 Maria is currently in a period of reflection, considering her next steps after transitioning from her role as COO to a board member at the 29k Foundation, with a focus on collective action and cross-sectoral collaboration for societal and environmental betterment.
- 👥 The 'Aware' app has a wide user base, ranging from youth to individuals in their 90s, with a significant portion of users being women in their late 20s to late 40s, highlighting the app's broad appeal and effectiveness.
- 🧘 The Inner Development Goals (IDG) initiative, which Maria is involved in, aims to identify and promote the development of skills and qualities necessary for individuals to address global challenges and create a regenerative future.
- 🌱 Maria emphasizes the importance of acting on the Inner Development Goals, suggesting that knowing about these qualities is not enough; it is the application and collective action that can lead to meaningful change.
- 👶 There is a noted increase in hopelessness and resignation among youth, particularly in Sweden, with rising mental health issues, drug use, and violence, indicating a need for more functional narratives and concrete interventions to build hope and agency.
- 🌟 Maria's message encourages individuals to reflect on the purpose and meaning of their work, questioning whether their actions contribute positively to the world and advocating for small shifts towards making a global impact.
Q & A
What is the mission of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs)?
-The mission of the IDGs is to advocate, facilitate, and integrate science-based skills and qualities that help individuals live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives, with the aim of bringing the power of inner development to all global challenges faced by humanity.
How does Maria's upbringing in Scotland with Greek parents influence her perspective on cultural diversity?
-Maria's upbringing with two cultures allowed her to see the world with many different perspectives, cultural contexts, and sensitivities from a young age. This experience made her aware of the complexity and interconnectedness of societies, which has stayed with her and influenced her career and life choices.
What is the role of the 29k Foundation?
-The 29k Foundation aims to develop inner capacities that enable individuals to not only cope but thrive in life for a more flourishing world and planet. It provides platforms or apps that are nonprofit, open source, and free for users, with the goal of supporting mental well-being and inner development.
How does the 29k Foundation ensure the sustainability of its free platforms?
-The 29k Foundation is funded through a mix of philanthropic money, corporate partnerships, and institutional funding. It aims to build out its own independent revenue through partnerships, supporting organizations with their communities' well-being and inner development, while keeping the platforms free for individuals.
What is the demographic of users for the 29k Foundation's apps?
-The 29k Foundation's apps have a wide demographic, with users ranging from age 15 to over 90 from over 200 countries. The majority of respondents have been women in their late 20s to late 40s, but the platform is designed to be inclusive and serve a broad audience.
Why did Maria transition from her role as COO to a board member at the 29k Foundation?
-Maria transitioned to a board member role as part of a restructuring of the organization to open it up and stay true to its original vision. The new structure allows for a collective or project-based team approach, enabling more project teams and organizations to support the platform's development and outreach.
What are Maria's plans for the future after her time with the 29k Foundation?
-Maria has dedicated the autumn to regenerate after intense years of work and to reflect on her next steps. She is considering opportunities where she can focus on collective action across several initiatives, striving for less silos and more collaborative, cross-sectoral collaborations.
How does Maria perceive the current state of youth in Sweden regarding mental health and spirituality?
-Maria observes an unprecedented pandemic of hopelessness and resignation among youth in Sweden, with a sharp increase in mental health issues, drug use, self-harm, and eating disorders. She notes a disconnect within and across communities and a need for a more functional narrative and concrete interventions to build hope and a sense of agency.
What is Maria's view on the role of individualistic society in the current trajectory of humanity?
-Maria believes that the individualistic focus in society is leading to destructive behaviors and taking humanity further away from its social nature. She sees a need for a radical shift towards systems and structures that support a more interconnected and collaborative approach to building a better world.
What is the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) initiative, and how is the 29k Foundation involved?
-The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) initiative aims to identify and promote the development of skills and qualities necessary for a more regenerative future for people and the planet. The 29k Foundation is one of the initiating partners of the IDGs, supporting its strategic development and helping to raise awareness and advocacy for the initiative.
How does Maria suggest we can create a more peaceful world despite the numerous initiatives that seem to have limited impact?
-Maria suggests that individuals have the power to imagine and act on a better world. She believes in the power of the few to impact the many and emphasizes the importance of initiatives that provide opportunities and access to tools for personal development, which can lead to systemic change.
Outlines
🌏 Introduction to the IDG Mission and Podcast
The paragraph introduces the International Development Goals (IDG) mission, which focuses on advocating, facilitating, and integrating science-based skills and qualities to promote sustainable and productive living. The podcast 'Walk, Talk, Listen' aims to connect people globally and address global challenges by sharing diverse perspectives. The host, Maurice Bloom, welcomes Maria Mudik, who is currently in Sweden, to discuss her experiences and views on cultural integration and personal development.
📚 Maria's Background and Academic Journey
Maria shares her background, having been born in Scotland to Greek parents from Athens and Crete. She discusses her upbringing in Glasgow, her move to London, and subsequent relocations to Brussels, Paris, and finally Sweden, where she has spent the last ten years. Maria's academic path began in law, shifted to working for a large law firm, and then to the UN, particularly UNESCO, before transitioning into social entrepreneurship. This journey reflects her quest for purpose and contribution to society.
💡 The Role of Inner Development in Global Challenges
Maria emphasizes the importance of inner development and its role in addressing global challenges. She discusses her work with the 29k Foundation, which focuses on developing inner capacities that allow individuals to thrive and contribute to a flourishing world. The foundation, started by three individuals in Sweden, aims to provide mental well-being and inner development tools for free, increasing access to these resources globally.
🌐 The 29k Foundation's Apps and Impact
The 29k Foundation has developed two apps, '29k' and 'AWARE,' which have been downloaded over half a million times, impacting users across the globe. The apps are nonprofit, open-source platforms providing mental health support and are funded through philanthropic money, corporate partnerships, and institutional funding. Maria discusses the awards and recognition received by the apps and their role in promoting individual and planetary well-being.
🤝 Collaborative Approach to Mental Health Support
Maria highlights the collaborative nature of the 29k Foundation's platforms, which allow researchers and organizations to contribute evidence-based tools and content. The platforms are designed to be accessible to all, promoting a Wikipedia-style model of sharing and utilizing resources for mental health and inner development. The user base is diverse, ranging from youth to older adults, with a significant portion being women in their late 20s to late 40s.
🏛️ Maria's Transition from COO to Board Member
Maria discusses her transition from being the COO of the 29k Foundation to a board member role following a restructuring of the organization. The new structure is aimed at staying true to the original vision of a Wikipedia for mental well-being and fostering a collective, project-based team approach. Maria is now focusing on strategic development and awareness for the platform.
🌱 Personal Reflection and Future Directions
Maria speaks about her decision to take time for personal regeneration after intense years of work. She reflects on her learnings and senses her next steps, feeling a strong calling towards collective action and collaborative initiatives. Maria emphasizes the need for less siloed efforts and more cross-sectoral collaborations to address global challenges and build a better world.
👱♀️ Addressing Youth Hopelessness and Mental Health
The conversation turns to the challenges faced by the youth, particularly in Sweden, where Maria notes an unprecedented pandemic of hopelessness and resignation. She discusses the rise in mental health issues, drug use, and violence among young people and the need for more functional narratives and concrete interventions to build hope and agency.
🌟 The Importance of Inner Development Goals (IDGs)
Maria discusses her involvement with the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), an initiative that aims to identify and promote skills and qualities necessary for a regenerative future. She emphasizes the importance of these goals as signposts for what is needed to address global challenges and the need for action on these skills and qualities in everyday life.
🤔 Critiques and the Global Reach of IDGs
Acknowledging potential critiques, Maria addresses concerns that the IDGs may be seen as a Western-centric framework. She explains the current phase of the IDGs involves a global survey to gather diverse perspectives and ensure cultural context and local wisdom are included in the framework.
🌱 The Power of Individual Action and Imagination
Maria discusses the power of individuals to imagine and create a better world. She cites the example of the Nordic Folk School movement and its impact on societal transformation. Maria believes that even if not everyone chooses to act, providing opportunities and access to tools can lead to a better place for all.
🎵 The Significance of Music and Acts of Kindness
Maria is asked to choose a song that represents her, and she selects 'A Million Dreams' from 'The Greatest Showman,' reflecting on its message of imagining a better world and the impact of acts of kindness. She also discusses the potential of simple acts of kindness to create a ripple effect and contribute to societal change.
📣 Final Thoughts and Invitation to Listeners
In closing, Maria encourages listeners to reflect on their work and its contribution to the world. She emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and purpose in one's work and the potential for small shifts towards contributing to a better world. Maria also invites listeners to learn more about her work and the 29k Foundation through the podcast notes.
🎶 Conclusion and Listener Engagement
The podcast concludes with an invitation for listeners to engage further with the content, explore the podcast notes, and connect on social media platforms. Maria expresses her appreciation for the discussion and the opportunity to share insights on interconnectedness and the importance of inner development for a thriving planet.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Inner Development Goals (IDGs)
💡Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
💡Mental Well-being
💡Social Entrepreneurship
💡Nonprofit and Open Source
💡Cultural Interconnectedness
💡
💡Global Challenges
💡Community Action
💡Individualistic Society
💡Purpose and Meaning
💡Ripple Effect
Highlights
The mission of the IDG (Inner Development Goals) is to advocate, facilitate, and integrate science-based skills and qualities that promote purposeful, sustainable, and productive living.
The podcast 'Walk, Talk, Listen' aims to connect people and improve the world by sharing diverse perspectives and experiences.
Maria Mudik, a guest on the podcast, grew up in Scotland with Greek parents, which exposed her to diverse cultural contexts and sensitivities from a young age.
Maria's career transitioned from law to social entrepreneurship, reflecting her drive to find purpose and contribute to society.
The 29k Foundation, co-founded by Maria, focuses on developing inner capacities that enable individuals to thrive and address global challenges.
The 29k Foundation has created two apps, '29k' and 'AWARE', which have a 4.9 rating and have had over half a million downloads, aiming to support mental well-being.
Both platforms developed by the 29k Foundation are nonprofit, open source, and free for users, which is a rarity in the tech world.
The 29k Foundation is funded by a mix of corporate partnerships, philanthropic money, and institutional funding to ensure the longevity of the project.
The apps developed by 29k Foundation are designed to be privacy-focused, with zero data on users and content available on users' own devices.
The user base of the 29k Foundation's apps is diverse, ranging from age 15 to over 90, with users from over 200 countries.
Maria Mudik's role within the 29k Foundation has evolved from COO to a board member, reflecting the organization's shift to a collective project-based team approach.
Maria is taking time to regenerate after intense work and is seeking her next steps, focusing on collective action across initiatives.
There is a noted increase in hopelessness and resignation among youth in Sweden, with a rise in mental health issues, drug use, and violence.
The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are designed to serve as signposts for what is needed to create a thriving and regenerative future.
The IDGs aim to bring the power of inner development to all global challenges faced by humanity, emphasizing the importance of individual and community skills.
The current phase for the IDGs involves a global survey to gather diverse perspectives, ensuring cultural context and local wisdoms are included.
Maria emphasizes the importance of acting on the IDG framework and addressing the knowing-doing gap that has existed for the last 50 years.
The power of a few can impact the many, as seen in historical examples like the Nordic Folk School movement, which contributed to societal change.
Maria Mudik is inspired by the song 'A Million Dreams' from 'The Greatest Showman', which embodies the spirit of imagining and creating a better world.
The concept of simple acts of kindness and their potential to create a ripple effect in society is a belief held by Maria, highlighting the importance of kindness in everyday interactions.
Transcripts
you know for those that don't know then
the idg's you know Mission really is to
Advocate facilitate and integrate then
science-based skills and qualities that
help us to live purposeful sustainable
and productive lives and with aim of
bringing them the power of inner
development to all Global challenges
faced by Humanity this is a podcast
called
walk
talk listen an attempt to connect people
and make this world a bit better by
sharing opinions and experiences based
on the belief that everyone's
perspective is true I'll be it
partial my name is Maurice Bloom and I
would like to welcome you to yet another
episode of walk talk
[Music]
listen
[Music]
okay good day everybody this is another
episode of the podcast walk talk listen
And as always I'm delighted with today's
guest to will introduce yourself Maria
please go ahead yes hi Maurice lovely to
see you again and hi everyone my name is
Maria mudik and I'm talking to you today
from just outside Stockholm in
seden h where it's currently full of
snow and about minus five um yeah yeah
and and Sweden is that also the place
where you where you grew up or you know
where you born and raised somewhere else
yeah exactly so I'm actually Greek my my
parents are from Athens in Creet in
Greece um but I was born and brought up
in Scotland oh so I lived uh in
Glasgow until I was around
17 then moved to Eden and then down to
to London uh all ultimately so um I've
been in Sweden now for 10 years MH um so
it's my 10 year anniversary with here
and before that though I've I've moved
to a few places so after London I was in
Brussels and then back to London and
living in Paris before coming to Sweden
so um I'd say maybe a good example of a
European uh ultimately yeah and and how
did your um parents end up in
Scotland so my uh my father uh chose to
study in England and my mother followed
him ultimately so they studied in
Southampton and then he's an academic to
begin with focusing on on shipping so
then they ended up he ended up at the
University in Glasgow and of course uh
they went for three years and ended up
uh 40 I think now 48 years later
there're still there and the rest of the
family is still in Greece okay okay and
and you know thinking back about your
you know growing up in in
Scotland um what pops up you know first
in your mind when you think about that
and and which is still you know relevant
for who you are today and what you
do I think certainly I see um ultimately
the opportunity of growing up with
certainly two
cultures was very much prevalent even as
a during my childhood as a way of seeing
that the world
ultimately um came with many different
perspectives and different cultural
context and
sensitivities and ultimately that
perhaps Society was more complex and uh
interconnected than what we are we are
often taught in in schools or even at
home and and
um that was certainly something that was
very I was very aware of even you know I
think from the age of eight I would say
there was often a very huge disparity
between my Summers with a very big Greek
family and then coming back to Scotland
just being a smaller unit and also very
very different ultimately to my other
classmates certainly in Glasgow at the
time uh was very uh um let's say less
diverse than um what I was being exposed
to personally and that's something that
has really stayed with me and my choices
I believe ultimately through um my
career and life choices and the sense of
um seeing both
inequalities uh in combination how we
are both can be a part and connected uh
as cultures and societies and that's
something that um has driven me really
to push towards the the beauty of our
interconnectedness and the beauty of
diversity and also equality and how we
can infer
ultimately and find a deeper meaning to
what we are doing if we choose to do so
when it comes to how we act and how we
are with people and what we choose to
work with and I I was very much brought
up um thanks to my parents uh I would
say very much to strive for say a
meaning and purpose with what we choose
to do in life and not to settle for
anything less and ultimately always
striving to fill our our full potential
in that sense and that um life is what
you make of it rather than what comes at
[Music]
you and and how does the the decision
from your side to
study at the University of edenboro how
does that fit into
that and ultimately you know you went to
the the London School of Economics as
well how how how does that fit into what
you just
explained yeah I think
um I actually started life my academic
Life as a
lawyer um I would say that was
more from the push around me than my
innermost calling in that sense and
really needing time as an individual to
uh feel and sense out what is it I would
like to do in life and so from a lawyer
I went to move on you know I studied in
edin and then in London uh law and then
went on to one of the largest law firms
in the world and worked there for a few
years before actually
shifting to go and work for the UN and I
was working for uh UNESCO and the adg
for cultures uh executive team and
before moving to Sweden and working on
um starting work with social
entrepreneurship so the the red thread I
would say with all with that is
really
um sensing into what is it really that
I'm what's my purpose what is it I'm
here
to do and contribute with and not being
satisfied if where I may find myself was
not um was maybe ticking some boxes and
not all in that sort of deeper drive to
contribute back ultimately so I ended up
you know in a as a finance lawyer doing
the closest thing to social impact
possible which was then at the time
project Finance law so working with
development Finance institutions for
very large projects predom in Africa and
the Middle East um but there there was a
I I needed some more creative Outlet
ultimately than law could give
me and and you ultimately found that in
in the organization that you're linked
with at the moment that's
29k right can you tell a bit about uh
29k and what is your role within that
although it evolved I think also right
yeah exactly so ultimately you know 20 I
I'm the former co-coo of the 29k
foundation and now transitioned into a
board member role there and ultimately
29k is looking at what inner capacities
or rather looking to develop inner
capacities we need to not only cope but
also Thrive uh in life for a a more
flourishing um world and Planet so
29k was the 29k foundation was uh
founded by three people here in Sweden
Nicholas adelbert Thomas Berkman and
Eric fernholm and it was very much stems
from um an aspirational I would say idea
that they had uh five six years ago
which is that um ultimately that the
best support for mental well-being and
inner development should be free
and easy to use and available for
everyone on the planet H the idea behind
that being that um if more if millions
of people um have the access to tools
that help them live more Fuller lives
and fulfill their Fuller potential their
true potential then there would be more
and more wiser decision makers in the
world H working together to solve the
more important or most important
problems we are facing uh as uh uh in
humanity or globally on the
planet and and I mean for the for the
listeners who are not totally aware so
29k Foundation came up with an app right
um exactly so address this yeah yeah
you're you're right Mar so today 29k has
developed two actually platforms or two
apps the first one is
29k and the latest sort of 2.0 version
is called aware and the have 4.9 rating
and now we've had over half a million
downloads I would say we've deeply
impacted since
20 um 20 uh when the first app was
launched now over 100,000 people of
which roughly 20,000 people have had the
equivalent uh impact or effect I would
say of six to eight therapy
sessions so of course from a given that
it's a Tech and an apppp I would say any
realistic goal for this type of
initiative uh should maybe have a
thousandfold when it comes to the impact
of number of people um but we are
certainly um I think on on the right
path uh towards that and we've recently
now with aware actually been received um
from Google uh best Hidden Gem award for
2023 aware was only launched now in may
uh this year okay congratulations with
there thank you um I would say you know
one thing I should underpin is that both
platforms are nonprofit and open source
and so really what makes me I would say
most proud of this initiative is that um
in a very for-profit Tech dominated
world uh that we live in where really
profit is a value metric that is
optimized for uh for cloud platforms and
creating a platform that can reach
millions and is grounded ultimately in
the acting for the greater good and
striving
to striving always to promote what is
best for the individual and and
ultimately planetary
well-being is um a rare gift I would say
to the commons and now having been there
three years it's uh it's certainly we're
the black sheep I would say in the tech
tech world coming in as nonprofit open
source and and ultimately free for users
yeah I I have a couple of questions
around it so so first of all so how do
you manage to provide it for free
because I I assume that you have a team
behind it that um you know that needs to
look after the app it is running well um
yeah so let let us focus on that how do
how do you do that
yeah I mean to to actually take to
develop the platform it was
philanthropic U money that ultimately
took a took the risk uh uh of developing
the platform in order to ensure that we
could keep it nonprofit and open source
rather than bringing in um traditional
investors that would then be focusing on
the profit ultimately as the for the
development um and then now today we are
funded on a let's say a traditional
nonprofit mix of
both we have we can have corporate
Partnerships now because we can provide
services to corporates as well as well
as philanthropic money and institutional
uh funding as well so um we're
ultimately still aiming in order to
ensure the long longevity of the project
um to build out our own independent
Revenue through Partnerships and Al
ultimately um supporting
organizations uh with their um
individuals or their employees uh or
communities uh well-being and inner
development as a way to keep it them
still free for
individuals and and what I noticed I
mean you you did include uh do include
the possibility for people to donate
right so um Are People Are People
providing uh donations for it is that
what you hope for right that they see
the value and that they think well I
would like this to continue so I would
like to support it yeah I mean we can
definitely there is an ability to donate
via the app and from our our web page
and of course uh if you want to support
or partner or spread the word that you
know that would be amazing for anyone
listening I mean we um I think there's a
fantastic example actually um from nipun
meta with service base where it's all uh
based based on uh on donations I think
in our case it's uh the combination of
different types of funding that is
ensured our sustainability in that sense
but we are very much focused on a
Wikipedia uh style model with the 29ks
you know both aware and 29k platforms
where um
researchers um organizations can come
with evidence-based uh tools or content
that they can put on the platform and
use with their communities But
ultimately whatever content is developed
is an made available not only to your
target group but to all as well so it's
very much this case of uh paying it
forward uh through your through
partnering together and of course
through
[Music]
donating
um no the the I mean both the apps are
really there to
support uh people with their mental
health um if if you look at the the
folks that are signing up and are using
the app is that a specific age group
that that really you know is using
this so I can say ultimately it's a
privacy by Design platform so we know
very little about our users from other
than seeing the usage itself so we have
zero data on any User it's all on user's
own device um but from follow-up um
questionnaires so from uh those that uh
have then chosen those users have then
chosen to follow up with more data then
we know there is really a spread because
it's also available for Youth and so
it's really from age 15 until 90 Plus in
this week and we have users from over
200 countries uh now um I would say
there is a a very big chunk uh just from
the responses we've received of course
um really from uh late 20s to late 40s
so that's a very big sweep um and the
majority of people that have answered
have been uh women as well female
um and but of course that's just from
those that have answered uh you know we
can see from feedback let's say comments
you Anonymous comments in the actual
platform or in the app um that it's and
from um users we see because we
ultimately it's you have peer-to-peer
groups and then you have meditated uh
group sessions as well as being able to
um do things on your own so from the
live group sessions that are facilitated
there is a broad sweep of um of Ages and
backgrounds as well okay
um I would like to go back to to you and
and your role within the organization so
you were the co-ceo before well before
that were you were the coo Okay and now
you're a board member um why did you
decide to stop you know to to take
another
role
um and yeah how do you see yourself I
mean what what is the next steps for you
because I I'm assuming that
that a being a board member doesn't pay
the bills
so no that that's a great question and
um what we we took a decision now in the
summer to um actually restructure the
organization okay and open it up in a
way that men and we could really stay
true to the original Vision which was a
a Wikipedia ultimately for mental
well-being and inner development and
with that restructure we shifted to um a
collective or Project based team uh
approach in order to allow then more Pro
more project teams and organizations to
be able to support to build out both the
content in the platform and help spread
both awareness and an Outreach so in in
as part of that then it didn't make
sense ultimately to have um a CEO I
would say overseeing the just a CEO I
would say overseeing the whole
organization rather with created a
Steering group then of key
representatives from the core then uh
team that um focuses not only on
maintaining and but rather developing
the core experience
uh for the user individual user in the
platform whilst uh um the larger Network
and of course including the board then
focuses on both the Strategic
development and also then the awareness
raising and advocacy around the platform
and bringing in those different uh
collaborators and
Partnerships
okay um and then as to the question of
what next yeah I'm gifting myself or I
have gifted myself this Autumn as a um
time
to um regenerate I would say very
intense uh three years and also to
really sense in with the sort of you
know what is actually the next right
step for me in that sense
with um things that I've learned
ultimately so far where can I best be of
service so there's a number of different
opportunities in uh choosing to to take
to force myself to take
time so so did you figure that out
already or you're you're still in the
process of of reflection and you know
where do we go from here I mean in terms
of uh I'm still in the process but
certainly I feel like a a strong calling
to be somewhere where I can really FOC
focus on Collective action across
several initiatives in that sense I see
a need for more of us to be striving for
Less
silos and U more collab collaborative
and cross- sectoral
collaborations where we can support
ultimately the ego to an anxieties to
come out of the room and really uh come
to more deeper collaborations for a more
accelerated uh approach to um building a
better world
[Music]
ultimately when I if if I listen to you
carefully from from today's conversation
you you used the word purpose a couple
of times um you know for me that there
is kind of a link
to um as you know or or maybe you don't
know I I don't remember if I told you
but this particular podcast is a
spin-off of a 100 mile walk that I
started in
2012 so I walk for uh 15 20 miles per
day in a week time to raise awareness
and funds uh to end Hunger poverty and
Injustice and during covid I was not
able to to walk with others um so then I
you know I thought okay I start walking
virtually so that's why and it then it
has gone out of hand a little bit you
know two years later and still doing
this um but during those walks um and
then I end up talking with my co-w
Walkers about you know what is the
purpose of of life and what drives you
um so so I yeah what drives
you it's a why do you get out of bed in
the morning right yeah it's a very uh
you know profound question ultimately
with many many different uh
aspects But
ultimately when I when you know you you
brought when you asked when I just hear
heard this question now what comes to me
really
is how can I make um contribute to
making the world better not only for my
children children but my children's
children and really thinking you know as
very wise indigenous leaders uh uh for
many centuries and still today
considering Seven Generations ahead so
what really drives me is how can I best
ensure whatever Footprints I make on the
planet uh both physical and metaphorical
are in some way shape or form
contributing to leaving it a better
place and when I uh came into it when I
leave
it yeah and it's something that
um you know I've been asking a couple of
people now during my podcast as well and
that's in terms of what what type of
ancestor do you want to be and and and
actually learning there from the
indigenous population that I I think
often talks in those type of you know um
with that type of wisdom and thinking
about
better um how do you thrive right and
and how do we get a better balance
between humanity and and nature
um anyway that those are our thoughts
and and conversations that I have during
those walks um we often talk about youth
as well you know and and what is
happening with the Next
Generation Um how is it with their um
spirituality their beliefs um so I
question that I always ask to my guests
is also what do you see among youth um
and with regard to religion and
spirituality in your
community I think right now generally
certainly in um in Sweden I would say
there is
unfortunately an un unprecedented
pandemic of hopelessness and resignation
uh spreading among youth
so um a sharp I would say not only
increase but really um prevalent uh
doomsday narratives and little sense of
agency right now amongst youth um
increasing Mental Health crisis at large
but also particularly I would say in
Sweden versus other European uh
countries and and globally especially
amongst the girls sharp increase in
drugs and you may have heard on the news
you know shoo
gangs right now much higher number of
shootings in Sweden more the ADHD self
harm Eating Disorders going down you
know really going down also to very low
ages um so I know whilst uh schools in
in in Sweden ESP certainly in Stockholm
have signed up to agenda
2030 uh that really a lot more progress
is needed and then linking that of
course to religion and spirituality it
is a a much
greater it's seem certainly from reports
and um you know really initiatives that
are working directly with youth um a
great um disconnect
ultimately uh within communities uh
across communities but also within
themselves um and with the community at
large so really there's a
I would say a growing need to create a
more functional narrative uh together uh
with concrete interventions to to build
hope uh and uh um bring on a more sense
of of agency ultimately and a uh very
practically you know access to
resources uh that will support children
of today to um with their mental health
and to feel that not only that they have
what they need need to cope but also to
to thrive and and what do you think is
the the reason for that or is it is it
and or is it you know some people are
saying well maybe this is also because
we just have more information you know
we know more what's going on in the
world and it's not very different than
how it was in the past what is your take
on
that I
mean my my personal take is
that we
are I think the the individualistic uh
Society uh where self has taken a very H
or and me has taken a very sort
of core role in how we both act and um
are exposed uh today in society are
ultimately leading to more and more
destructive behaviors because it's
taking us really more and further and
further away
than what we even genetically uh you
know have
evolved over hundreds of thousands of
years now to to become in that sense we
are a social species we Thrive best
together and so I think it's not
only you know youth really are at the
the the Casp the first wave in in their
lives of what is uh uh a much longer
story when it comes to humanity and the
trajectory that we have
taken and um unfortunately it's coming I
I believe it's you know coming more and
more to a head in that sense with this
individualistic approach where we are
really at a Crossroads where we are
running out of time ultimately to make a
radical shift in how we are um in what's
systems uh and structures we are
um holding Humanity up with in the world
in that sense and not least youth yeah
our
[Music]
children um you you were alluding to the
sustainable development goals right and
that we are not we are behind um on
average we are at 15% reaching that goal
um
and well we we met each other at the in
a Development Goal Summit the second one
and you know the people are going there
are going there because they they think
that one of the reasons if not you know
the main reason that we are not reaching
those goals is that we are not paying
proper attention to the abilities skills
and knowledge that you need as an
individuals and as a
community I know that you have been
instrumental you know a part of that
group of folks who started this um yeah
can can you tell me a bit about two
things how did you got involved uh with
in the development goals and then second
what do you like the people to know the
listeners to know about the inner
development
goals thank you Mari so the 29k
foundation is one of the initiating
partners of the IDS our inner
development goals together with the Oak
Island foundation and um and the new
vision and so I was lucky enough to be
part of um the let's say the the
starting group in that sense um to get
the initiative going the premise being
really very much that
um there's so many wonderful initiatives
globally talking about as you mentioned
Maurice you know what are the
um what are the abilities uh skills um
and qualities that we need to develop in
order to um create a more uh ultimately
regenerative future for people and
planet and to address the global
challenges that we face today Humanity
so
um 29k is of course now you know it's an
initiating partner but we have been part
of um supporting the Strategic
development uh and ASA now as a the
organization uh seeing what we can do
ultimately to to support now the
initiative that is gaining a lot of
traction uh amongst governments un
agencies and institutions and uh the
private sector and civil society as well
um I mean I would say you asked me what
I would want to say to listeners um you
know for those that don't know that the
idg's you know Mission really is to
Advocate uh facilitate and integrate
then science-based skills and quality
ities that help us to live purposeful
sustainable and productive lives with
aim of bringing then the power of inner
development to all Global challenges
faced by
humanity and I think there's now over
300 country hubs uh globally across all
sectors but really the main thought I
would like to as a takeaway from my
perspective with the
IDS is that
um the inner development goals are not
an end goal in themselves rather they're
there to serve only as signposts to what
is needed and lacking today if we are to
create a more thriving and regenerative
future so I think um that for every
skill set set out in you know what is
the idg framework there's a five
dimensions and roughly right now 23
skill sets is very much worth
considering what is stopping us also
from developing or learning or applying
these skills or qualities um in our
everyday lives because I I think also
just knowing that okay now I if I learn
to be more compassionate or have more
complexity awareness or
consider um cooperation and
collaboration
um that in itself won't necessarily save
the planet it's uh it is a combination
really of uh you know the five
Dimensions is you know the being
relating
thinking and collaborating and so on
that um it's actually choosing to act on
them and how you act and what is
stopping you from acting uh what I
believe will address a knowing doing Gap
that we are in now the last I'd say 50
years in that sense mhm no and and I
appreciate that you especially you know
also emphasize the acting don't you know
don't forget that um I'm you know I'm
I'm really trying
to be uh an advocate you know of of the
SGS I think people need to be aware and
countries need to act and and you know
even the country that I'm at present
living in you know not a lot of people
know about the sustainable development
goals unfortunately um so one of the
critique points
uh um critical yeah critique is you know
this is really your U un policy um when
when folks talk about the
SGS um do you think there is also a
danger that the inner development goals
are seen as such you know something from
the West that you know the the elite are
are talking about and you know has no
meaning um you know at at at the
Grassroots and people that are at the
moment not really um able to participate
in Access um all the resources that we
can in the so-called Western
countries I think it's a there's a very
valid uh critique in the sense of um I'd
say the idg framework as of today you
know that stems from around uh you know
4,000 answers uh predominantly from
Western countries when it comes to both
from experts you know research and U
leaders across
sectors and um that is why the the
current phase for the IDS is now to
what's called a one question Global
survey where uh the initiative is
looking to gather at least um uh 100,000
answers globally from all countries I
would say and communities in the world
to ensure that both cultural context and
also um local wisdoms are taken into
account when it comes to um having a a
mapping and definitely not certainly not
a definitive mapping of uh what skills
and qualities and abilities we we need
uh to start to act uh um more
proactively and a level that's not seen
yet when it comes to the stgs uh
certainly
um
and I think there's a very conscious um
you know
very the team in the IDS is very
consciously certainly not um aiming to
set the IG framework as the the be all
and end all in that sense and I think we
need to be very um careful to make sure
that that is also represented when
talking about the the IDS yeah yeah no I
I appreciate that although I I think
it's you know maybe unfortunately at the
moment um as a world as as Humanity we
very quick with criticizing all kinds of
things in instead of saying you know
looking at how can we use that to to
create change where do we agree and how
can we move forward it's it's um and I
think that's very much necessary um one
of the things that I hope that I will be
able to establish with this podcast is
connect people and show different
perspectives and again you know when you
listen to Maria when you listen to the
previous guest uh Freddy that you say
okay you know I don't uh necessarily
agree with everything he or she's saying
but hey this is interesting and there I
could start a conversation and the
dialogue which is so important in this
you know uh polarized world so I have a
question for you from the previous
guest we see what is going on we see a
lot of initiatives about to make this
world much more
peaceful but yet this world is not
peaceful peaceful at
all what can we do different
differently uh we know that we have a
lot of
initiatives and you have so many
trainings and people actually very
highly skilled to even share those
skills to to others we have good people
we have also other people who do not
really uh get uh into the process of uh
making this world
peaceful so and these have been there
for long and in order to bring back
hope what did what can we do as a human
being and what can we differently to
make this world a better place to
live
oh yeah I think really what's coming to
mind for me is
actually what uh you know phel talks on
imagination activism in that sense that
we do not have to accept the status
quo and that we do have the
power as humans to not only imagine the
world a better world that we want to
create but also to act on it and I truly
believe that the power of uh the few can
impact the many in that sense
so we
um um thank you have a a good example
there from
um
the let's say the well there's many good
examples of that um but uh
certainly
um thinking back to what stemmed before
29k as well uh was one of the founders
wrote a book called The Nordic secret
here um and that talks about the the
building
uh and Folk School movement uh in the
nordics uh back in the late 19th early
20th century
where um all uh members in society were
given the chance to go to for a six
Monon uh Retreat where they were able to
um work on their inner capacities and
skill sets very much uh the ones they
perhaps like on the inner development
goals frame work and then from that you
had then the you know the the statement
really is that from these folk schools
and giving the chance for education and
a deeper education to the many uh
allowed then the knock on positive
effects in the nordics when it came to
the great transition from very
impoverished uh countries to uh some of
the happiest let's say uh prosperous
countries in the world
so long story short to um
um looking
at can a few uh key initiatives change
the trajectory for the many even if not
everyone is choosing to act and I truly
believe that if we can imagine the world
that we we want and create opportunities
and access then to to tools for uh a
good percentage that we would all then
stand a better chance of um H having a
was it a better place to live right
yeah your question for the next
guest I think it's you know we've talked
quite a bit about it of course not
surprising
when it comes to 29k and IDs
but
um I would flip it then to really want
to ask the next guest on what qualities
abilities or skills uh do they believe
uh uh we need to develop to change our
trajectory and to start to build a more
sustainable and regenerative future for
people in
Planet and I think with that I would add
then if you could imagine a place where
we together can learn and develop these
qualities abilities and skills what
would that place or places look like and
how could we ensure access for
[Music]
all
nice um music it's very important to me
so I always ask a question about music
as well um if I ask you to come up with
a piece of music or a song that embodies
for a big part what you are about which
song Would it be and
why this is such a difficult question
because I love so many different uh
types of music depending on uh you know
it's really for me music is
uh great gives me great strength Maurice
this is not a nice
question well you know I for what is wor
some people have been cheating and they
gave me three three different titles
oh well um so if you really cannot
choose
yeah I think um my um son you know as
part of uh I have three blessed with
three children and they have a Winter
concert at their
school and uh one of my sons uh his
class had to sing
um uh or didn't yeah hard to sing really
a Million Dreams the song by H from the
greatest showman yeah and um I'd say I'm
very profoundly moved by that
song uh I think it's especially when
hearing um my son and the class sing it
and because
ultimately it's uh you know very much
linked to what we've talked about today
in terms of um not accepting what you're
given or the status quo and Imagining
the world we want to create uh and
despite
uh counter forces around you uh sticking
the course
ultimately um yeah so I will pick that
one and then there's a myriad of others
that I will keep
myself no and and I don't know if you
are aware and and to remind listeners so
we will add this particular song to a um
a playlist that we developed on Spotify
if you go to Spotify um and you search
for hasht walkt talk listen you will
find all the songs that have been
selected by or picked by my uh guests so
far so thank you um you know here in the
states uh there's a person called Steve
Hartman of C CBS I don't know if he's
still doing that but he used to at least
examine how one simple act of kindness
uh create a ripple effect I have two
questions uh to you about this is one
what do you think about the poent of one
simple act of kindness in creating a
ripple effect and then the second part
of the question is if I ask you now on
the spot to come up with a simple act of
kindness that you would do this week
what would you
do I I truly believe in the let's say
social emotional impact of acts of
kindness and their potential
I think not least when displayed even by
what you could say role models in
society for their potential to
contribute
um um to the greater good or the
establishment or modification of uh
social norms in that sense I think
um or I know that uh mental models are
what underpins any systemic change in
that sense and so simple acts of
kindness um I I know because I have
experienced them and felt and their
knock on effects uh can have a profound
change uh in our
society uh small and Amplified uh so
really yeah do believe that is
um
aspirational and um
what would I
do you know I
am I'm uh often stopped in the street uh
for by someone that needs help and I'm
often have people smiling at me and
saying do I have you met so I very much
um an advocate for being kind to
whoever needs help or or um or actually
just taking the time to smile at someone
a
stranger and so what would I do this
week well
it's very snowy outside so I could
certainly stop and pick up a neighbor on
the way who's walking to the B stop from
where I live there's a very big hill
down and up to get easy B stop and the
one close by doesn't go that often so
that's one that comes to mind right now
looking outside my my
window
um and continuing uh the practice of
smiling at strangers it'll be I'm always
amazed at how a person's face can change
uh and bring them out of their thoughts
to the present uh just with a
smile great and and just for the
listeners because they can't see us you
were smiling so I started to smile so
it's working
um Maria um yeah any message invitation
or question for the
listeners I
think to the extent that you you can I
believe it's very important in today's
world to stop and ask
yourself are you working with something
that provides meaning and purpose do you
truly believe it will contribute to
making uh the world a better place for
even yourself your community and those
around you and and your children and
children's children because if not is
really what you're doing worth it and do
you or can you in any way
[Music]
um make a small
shift towards
uh contributing to a better
world you know these these conversations
always go fast um so before I we you
know we we finish a
conversation um yeah is there any
question that I should have asked you
but I didn't
perhaps Maurice what made you choose to
come on the the
podcast yeah the question to to me of
what made me choose to come to join oh
okay got it got it yeah so why why why
did you say yes to me when I asked
you and it's a it's a very good
question why did I get into this how did
I get into this yeah I I believe because
we had a a very nice and uh open and
honest connection during the inner
development goals Summit where you were
very um open and non assuming and just
came as a human being Maurice to our
shared lunch that day and no matter you
know what backgrounds or or experiences
or positions in life I uh I'm always
drawn to individuals that have the
ability and courage to just show up as a
human being and start a connection of
that
point so thank you no thank you for for
which I that's very nice uh to hear I
mean you know you
always yeah you know you always try I
mean if you
um you know that again that's what I try
to do with this podcast as well right is
is that I hope
that um in a way we have much more in
common you know than we think um often
and and that should be enough to start
conversation and to share um you know
our perspectives and and again at the
end we don't have to agree but I I think
it helps to to understand more
uh context where people come from
um and and yeah we should do that more I
I really think that that will contribute
to a better world I'm I'm totally
convinced about that and I I I think
that's also from my perspective what the
inner development goals are about or
whatever you call it right but uh that
there needs to be a better balance
between inner World outer
World
um and um
yeah we you know I I was struck also by
your last one of your last posting
postings on on LinkedIn where you said
um a thriving Planet starts with a
thriving you and I I definitely think
that that is true um have a better
balance between all of all of that the
IV the it and the its so if we are able
to to do that in a better way we uh we
should be able to move forward um
in a in a direction where there will be
you know future Generations U because
I'm I'm I'm definitely worried about it
yeah
um I can agree more Maurice and
definitely have you know Dr Dan seagull
uh mu you know and me to we approach and
his most recent book The
interconnected um you know came to mind
when you were talking now in that sense
um I truly believe that we are all
interconnected and just have to it's
rather ReDiscover what uh we in nature
ultimately teaches us uh
um on uh how to approach life in a way
for us to
thrive and and a little bit more
humility um
would definitely help um thank you so
much Maria and and you know all the best
with your um you know your next steps
whatever they uh might be so so um keep
me posted I would be interested to u to
see and find out what you're doing I
would like to encourage the listeners to
um really check out the podcast notes
where I will try to write a little bit
more about you and and about uh you know
make it the link available to the
29k and uh it's work so yeah thank you
so much thank you so much mace
appreciate
[Music]
it
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