What happens when a changemaker pushing for a better world hits burnout? In this episode, I sit down with Nora Wilhelm - a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, TEDx speaker, and systems innovator - to talk about the highs and lows of dedicating your life to change.
Nora shares how her journey started at just 15, leading her to co-found collaboratio helvetica in Switzerland and later create the well • change atelier and Parayma - projects that bring creativity, healing, and purpose into the world of social innovation.
It’s a conversation that’s both lighthearted and real - where we laugh, we get serious, and we explore how to keep going when the work of change feels overwhelming.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Nora Wilhelm's Journey
02:10 - The Challenge of Social Change and Burnout
04:14 - Early Influences and Awakening to Injustice
08:12 - First Steps Towards Activism
12:34 - Navigating Teenage Years and Finding Community
14:19 - University Experience and Disappointment
17:53 - Struggling with Balance and Overcommitment
19:55 - Recognizing the Need for Safeguards
22:16 - The Impact of Burnout and Seeking Help
26:31 - Facing Burnout: A Turning Point
30:22 - Life in the Burnout Clinic
33:31 - Preparing to Re-enter the World
35:21 - Breaking Free from Dependency
36:12 - Rediscovering Creative Passions
39:34 - The Power of Art in Change Work
41:11 - Scaling Impact through Parayma
44:17 - The Dalai Lama Fellowship Experience
51:51 - Finding Joy in Simple Moments
53:28 - Empowerment and Personal Agency
Connect with Nora on LinkedIn, Instagram or visit her website. Find out more about her work at Parayma and the well • change atelier.
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