🎧 Listen to the episode to find out:

- How to communicate clearly without softeners like “just checking in” or “sorry to bother you” — and still sound respectful

- Why directness feels different across cultures

- How to give feedback that lands — turning awkward moments into productive collaboration

- What the “Stinky Fish” method can teach us about surfacing hidden tensions in projects early

And why setting boundaries isn’t selfish, but a form of modern leadership

“Just Breathe” — with Michele, former Apple leader turned breathwork coach

In this episode, Ksenija sits down with Michele, who swapped corporate success for a more balanced, conscious life built around one of the most powerful tools we all have — our breath.

Together they explore:

• Why breathwork goes far beyond meditation or yoga

• How your breath directly controls your nervous system — from stress mode to calm focus

• A 3-minute calming practice you can do anywhere

• A clean-energy breath sequence that boosts focus (without caffeine)

• The link between breathwork, leadership, and creativity

• Why “having it all” is less important than living in alignment

• How to start your own sustainable breath routine with Michele’s Inner Balance Club

If you’ve ever felt fine on paper but misaligned in reality — this episode is for you.
Simple, science-backed, and instantly actionable.

🎧 Listen, breathe, and reset — right here on the Present Perfect Podcast.

Use the code PRESENTPERFECT10 for the additional CHF 10 off the first month of The Inner Balance Club (on top of the 7 day free trial period!) https://www.theinnerbalanceclub.com/

Your voice is more powerful than you think. In this episode of Present Perfect Podcast, Ksenija speaks with Petra Andrensek—singer, musicologist, and vocal coach—about how to use your voice with clarity, confidence, and ease in both professional and personal settings.

Petra shares:

• The 5 elements of voice: pitch, melody, pace, tone, and volume

• A 60-second warm-up that gets your voice ready for meetings or presentations

• How to sound confident in male-dominated rooms like finance, blockchain, or IT

• Why your recorded voice sounds different (and how to embrace it)

• The secret link between breathing, stress, and confidence

• How to fall in love with your voice and start playing with it

Whether you’re preparing for a boardroom, a pitch, or a podcast, this episode will help you unlock the potential of your voice.

Less stuff, more calm. In this episode of Present Perfect Podcast, organizational coach Sabrina shares a practical, guilt-free path from “invisible chaos” to a cozy, livable home — no harsh minimalism, no endless storage bins. We cover the 72-hour rule for impulse buys, the 10-minute tidy the whole family will do, how to train your “decision muscle,” what belongs in a memory box, and why the answer usually isn’t “buy more storage.”You’ll learn:

• The “everything has a spot” rule you’ll actually keep
• 72-hour rule to stop impulse purchases (and save money)
• 10-minute tidy + music: make tidying painless & repeatable
• How to build your decision muscle (start with socks!)
• Gifts you don’t love: let go without guilt
• What to do with cables, iPhone boxes & uni notes
• One memory box for sentimental items (and when photos are enough)
• Weekly room rhythm: organize once, maintain forever
• Why it’s not a storage problem (and when to borrow or rent)

About our guest — SabrinaOrganization coach helping families and busy professionals design simple, sustainable home systems that stick. Methods inspired by Marie Kondo but tailored for real life (kids, partners, tiny kitchens, full calendars).

Ready to move from holding it together to truly thriving? In Present Perfect’s first episode, neuroscientist & mind-body coach Vanessa Saint-Gelais shares practical, science-backed tools to regulate stress, sharpen focus, and make better decisions—especially for ambitious women juggling careers, businesses, and life.What you’ll learn

1. The “red vs. blue balloon” model: emotions (limbic) vs. control (cortex) and how stress hijacks decisions
2. B.E.M.M.E.—a 5-step, 30-second reset you can do anywhere (before meetings, during tough conversations)
3. Quick physiology hacks: double-inhale/slow exhale (vagus nerve), a tactile trick to stop mental chatter, and tension release
4. How to build your personal “operating manual” (triggers, energy givers/drainers) and set sustainable boundaries
5. Deep work over distraction: creating focus windows, postponing impulses, and ditching the multitasking myth

Timestamps0:00 Intro & why neuroscience matters1:10 Vanessa’s path: lab → leadership → mind-body coach3:20 Quick fixes vs. long-term rewiring4:30 Emotions vs. cortex: the balloon metaphor6:00 B.E.M.M.E. overview6:40 B – Breath: double inhale, long exhale (vagus nerve)9:20 E – Emotions: “Part of me is feeling…” + park it for later12:10 M – Mental clarity: stop mental chatter (tongue-on-teeth)14:45 M – Muscle tension: body scan & tapping reset17:20 E – Energy: protect your battery; boundaries that earn respect20:30 Deep work, distractions & focus stamina27:00 Be your own coach: build your manual31:30 Multitasking myth, presence & recovery34:40 Final takeaways: be curious & look below the surfaceAbout the guestsVanessa Saint-Gelais — Neuroscientist & Mind-Body Coach; decision-making & peak-performance expertHost: Ksenija Korolova — Podcaster, Web3 entrepreneur, product managerIf this helped: like, subscribe, and share with a friend who’s building big things under pressure.Disclaimer: Educational content only; not medical advice.