Virtual Walk Talk Listen with Maria Modigh (episode 138)

Summary

In 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

00:00

🌏 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.

05:02

📚 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.

10:03

💡 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.

15:05

🌐 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.

20:06

🤝 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.

25:07

🏛️ 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.

30:08

🌱 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.

35:08

👱‍♀️ 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.

40:10

🌟 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.

45:14

🤔 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.

50:16

🌱 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.

55:19

🎵 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.

Keywords

💡Inner Development Goals (IDGs)

Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are a set of science-based skills and qualities aimed at enabling individuals to live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives. They are central to the mission of the 29k Foundation and are discussed in the context of addressing global challenges faced by humanity. In the script, Maria emphasizes the importance of IDGs as a means to bring about positive change and to support mental well-being and inner development.

💡Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations to address various societal, economic, and environmental issues by 2030. Maria discusses the current state of the SDGs, noting that the world is behind on achieving these goals and emphasizing the need for individual and community development in alignment with the SDGs.

💡Mental Well-being

Mental well-being refers to a state of psychological health where an individual can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their community. In the script, the importance of mental well-being is highlighted through the work of the 29k Foundation and their apps, which aim to provide tools for individuals to enhance their mental health and live more fulfilling lives.

💡Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship involves the application of innovative, market-based solutions to address social, cultural, or environmental issues. Maria's career transition into social entrepreneurship reflects her drive to contribute to societal development in a more impactful way than her previous work in law allowed. The script mentions her work with the UN and her current role in promoting social good through technology and community initiatives.

💡Nonprofit and Open Source

Nonprofit and open source are terms that describe the nature of the 29k Foundation's platforms. The apps developed by the foundation are provided free of charge and are open source, meaning their code is available for others to use and modify. This approach is highlighted in the script as a contrast to for-profit tech companies and is a key aspect of the foundation's mission to democratize access to mental well-being tools.

💡Cultural Interconnectedness

Cultural interconnectedness is the idea that different cultures are linked and can learn from each other, leading to a more diverse and inclusive society. Maria's upbringing with Greek and Scottish cultures is mentioned in the script as a significant influence on her worldview and her commitment to promoting diversity and equality.

💡

💡Global Challenges

Global challenges refer to the complex and interdependent problems that affect humanity as a whole, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The script discusses how the 29k Foundation aims to empower individuals with the inner capacities to address these challenges through the development and use of their apps.

💡Community Action

Community action involves individuals coming together to address shared concerns and work towards common goals. Maria expresses a strong calling to focus on collective action across several initiatives to drive change. The script emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts to build a better world.

💡Individualistic Society

An individualistic society is one where the focus is on personal goals and self-interest, often at the expense of collective well-being. Maria discusses the negative impacts of individualism on youth and society, suggesting that it leads to a sense of hopelessness and a lack of connection with others and the environment.

💡Purpose and Meaning

Purpose and meaning refer to the sense of significance and direction that individuals find in their lives and work. Maria is driven by a desire to ensure that her actions contribute to a better world for future generations. The script explores the concept of purpose in relation to career choices and life decisions.

💡Ripple Effect

The ripple effect is the phenomenon where a small action or change can have far-reaching consequences. Maria believes in the power of simple acts of kindness to create positive change in society. The script mentions the potential for these acts to influence social norms and contribute to a greater good.

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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