Spoiler: Only for voluntary optmists! Most people look in amazement at utopias, at projects that attempt the impossible. Perhaps utopias fascinate us because they require us to get out of our own comfort zones: In order to make a utopia happen, you have to work on yourself. You have not only to want to change yourself but actually change. In this episode you'll hear how about Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, a living utopia in Israel where Israelis and Palestinians are living together peacefully (though not without challenges). And if you believe that Russians and Americans cannot work together these days, give us a listen. Things may be different than they appear.

Meet Kevin Chaplin, a successful banker who gave up his career in the business world to change lives. Kevin is the founder of the South African Ubuntu Foundation and Managing Director of the Amy Foundation. Through these foundations he helped more than 1300 students to find employment and created 150 businesses in four years. Find out how Kevin's life is interconnected with the history of South Africa, how forgiveness and being genuine leads to societal change and success, and why Ubuntu is key when you want to bridge racial, religious, cultural, and economic barriers and divisions. Read about Kevin's journey and leadership skills in his book Can Do! Making the Impossible Possible. Join the Ubuntu movement @ #PledgeUbuntu.

No matter how old we are, emotions are part of our lives. Yet, expressing our own feelings and relating to other people doesn't always come easy. It's a skill we need to learn and develop. Roots of Empathy has developed a unique curriculum to increase empathy and emotional literacy for children aged five to thirteen. Their programme helps children to express their feelings and to learn to recognize feelings in others. But it does more than that: it reduces bullying behaviour and it promotes resilience and positive mental health - as independent university research proves. Join my conversation with Sara Lane, the Director of Research and Curriculum of Roots of Empathy, and find out why empathy matters and plays a key role in creating caring, peaceful, and civil societies.  

Building peace seems like an impossible task. But just as a popular sports brand keeps reminding us: impossible is nothing. In this episode you'll hear the stories of people who have experienced unrest, conflict, and war and yet won't get discouraged from bringing peace to their communities. They share their recipies on what it takes to bridge the religious gap and they prove American historian and playright, Howard Zinn right: "To live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is in itself a marvellous victory." Sources Chefs for Peace: https://chefs4peace.weebly.com/index.html, last download 20/03/22. Nigeria: http://africanclimatereporter.com/2022/02/07/, last download 20/03/22; https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/publications/spotlight-the-nigerian-film-industry.html, last download 20/03/22; https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/, last download 20/03/22.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - this quote by Ghandi is easy to say but hard to follow, especially when it comes to our own consumption and the magic of reduce, reuse, recycle. Enter Ribhu Vohra and Chandrah Nusselein, the power duo that changes the way children all over India think and act when it comes to waste. Through experimentation, research and the participation of teachers and students alike the WasteLess team develops educational materials that empower children to think critically, inspire environmentally responsible behaviour and drive future systemic change. While they work with children, they have an impact on adults, too. I know, for I am one of them. For it's never too late to waste less. Here's the direct link to the waste-calculator mentioned in the episode. https://wastelessindia.org/waste-calculator/

According to various studies over 40% of us will feel the aching pangs of loneliness at some point in our lives. Loneliness is experienced by people of all ages, all genders, all cultures and the feeling of disconnection has dramatically increased since 2020.Yet despite how common loneliness is, we never talk about it. It's a secret we all share. But just because you feel lonely doesn't mean you have to remain lonely.The Cares Family is a British organisation that builds connection in a disconnected age. Find out why loneliness is not only a personal challenge, but how it effects our respective health systems. In this episode you'll meet Corinne and Eleanor who share their intergenerational stories from baking sessions to doing shots at a party. And Rich, a Cares' staff member, shares why it's up to each one of us to create the community and connection we are looking for.After all, we are all sharing the human experience and if you dare, you might discover that The Supremes where right: Age really is nothing but a number.

Have you ever knocked on a stranger's door and had your life changed in turn? Have you ever done something that seemed strange to society - or maybe would like to give it a try?Life is about taking chances - taking chances on others and ourselves, as the stories from Los Hombres Tejedores and The Cares Family show. For change only happens if we dare and take the road less travelled.

What is success to you? When a year draws to its close we often look back at the past 365 days, reflecting on what went well, what didn't, which goals we achieved and how we could do better in future.The South African view of life as "ubuntu" brings a different understanding of success and winning. It has the potential of changing the way we interact in our private lifes, at work and throughout the world. Why not give it a try? Sources: Christian population https://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/global-christianity-exec/ - last downloaded 18/12/21. South Africa http://www.tutufoundationusa.org/mission-vision/ - last downloaded 18/12/21. https://www.reference.com/world-view/unusual-christmas-traditions - last downloaded 18/12/21. Spain http://ivanfernandezanaya.blogspot.com/2012/12/buenas-noches-amigosas.html - last downloaded 18/12/21. https://correctiv.org/faktencheck/2021/08/04/altes-ereignis-falsches-foto-geschichte-ueber-kenianischen-laeufer-abel-mutai/ - last downloaded 18/12/21. https://www.inspiremore.com/ivan-fernandez-anaya-abel-mutai/ - last downloaded 18/12/21.

Have you ever bought a caffè sospeso, a pending coffee? Have you ever invited a stranger over for Sunday lunch? We all know that having a drink with a friend or sharing a meal with our family is one of the easiest way to deepen our human connections. But it can also be a life-changing experience.No matter if you're a coffee person or a tea lover, listen in and find out how the tradition of caffè sospeso in Napels is an act of solidarity in which the whole city participates and why Berlin summers are worse than its winters and how Sunday lunches can change a life.

What's your relationship like with money? Do you have enough money? Does money come easy to you? Do you believe that money is the root of all evil? There are so many concepts around money - after all money makes the world go round. Most often we relate to our own sense of selfworth to the amount of money we make. Value and money seem to be invariably linked. But that doesn't need to be the case. Money relationship expert Sarah McCrum shares her insights on the money-selfworth dynamic and how to break it. Discover how you can change your relationship with money and why living according to your values is key. Check out Sarah's money scorecard and learn more about The Spirit of Business on Sarah's podcast by the same name.

Can patience make a difference? Can it have an impact? And even more pressingly: can being patient be fun? Find out the answers to these questions and discover how patience got popular at a supermarket chain in the Netherlands, and why it plays a role in bridging the age gap in a language school in Brazil. And should you be in a hurry: The impact of patience depends on two things: How patient are you when it comes to others and how patient are you when it comes to yourself. Spoiler alert: Somehow the two are inevitably linked. Sources: The Netherlands https://nieuws.jumbo.com/persbericht/jumbo-geeft-startschot-voor-opening-200-kletskassas/616/#clip_content; last downloaded: 06/11/21. https://theworld.org/stories/2018-04-18/amsterdam-tackling-loneliness-one-dance-party-time; last downloaded: 06/11/21. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210403/p2a/00m/0na/005000c; last downloaded: 06/11/21.    Brazil: https://videosift.com/video/Young-Brazilians-learn-English-by-talking-with-old-Americans; last downloaded: 06/11/21. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/; last downloaded: 06/11/21. https://www.distancecalculator.net/; last downloaded: 06/11/21.

What do therapists, FBI negotiators and people who build bridges across social divides have in common?They know und use the secret that turn a (sometimes difficult) conversation into game changing one. These days social gaps are visible everywhere and societies all over the world struggle how to bridge them. Communication is one tool to bridge these divides, yet it is prone to misunderstandings, the cause for disagreements and can even lead to conflicts - both on a personal level as well as on a societal one. Find out how you can use a simple communication tool to make a real difference in your daily life and get inspired from game changing conversations happening at the Human Library (Denmark) and become a part of Living Room Conversations (USA).Sources: The Human Library, Denmark: https://humanlibrary.org/; last downloaded 23/10/21. Living Room Conversations, USA:https://livingroomconversations.org/about-us/; last downloaded 23/10/21.

If you worked in the film business and had worked with Hollywood greats like Brad Pitt - would you leave that life behind to go to Auroville, South India to start an NGO? That's exactly what Fif Fernandes did. While mental health issues are on the rise everywhere in the world (note: India has one of highest suicide rates among teenagers and students with 28 lives lost every day, according to the The Hindu), MeDi Clown Academy is helping people struggeling with illnesses, fighting depressions, living in poverty. Fif Fernandes and the MeDi Clown Academy found a simple yet effective solution: Joy. Listen to her journey which took her from the movie world to Canadian hospitals and then to village life in India and even Chandigarh prison. Find out how joy and laughter can bring healing to healthcare, education and corporate environments - and how it can help bridging the divide between the rich and poor. For more info: www.mediclownacademy.org Or if you want to get in touch with Fif: fif@mediclownacademy.org

Can you run a business based on trusting your customers? Can you build trust in communities that have experienced conflict and war? The answers to these two questions will bring you to a bakery in Saudi Arabia and the Hand in Hand school and community project in Israel. Give it a listen, it's worth it. Trust me. Sources: The Honest Bakery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmI_LM7O3Bc – last download: 26/08/21. https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/175809; article from 31/03/17 – last download: 26/08/21. Hand in Hand school and community project https://www.handinhandk12.org/ – last download: 12/09/21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxZJ8_zmcGU – last download: 12/09/21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRvDtswAm0I – last download: 12/09/21. https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-demand-swells-jewish-arab-schools-network-seek-donors/; article from 20/06/20 – last download: 12/09/21.  

What's at the core of a civilization? In this episode we're going to answer this question in a very pragmatic fashion by looking at a community project in Lebanon and by discovering how a tether may be more than just a way of physically connecting people. Links on becoming a guide: For Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Singpore, the UK: https://www.attendly.com/guide-running-with-blind-or-visually-impaired-runners/ - last download: 27/08/21. For Germany: https://www.guidenetzwerkdeutschland.de/blinde-und-seheingeschraenkte-laeufer - last download: 27/08/21. Sources: On Margaret Mead: Ira Byock, The Best Care Possible: A Physician’s Quest to Transform Care Through the Ende of Life (Avery, 2012), quoted in https://ismailalimanik.medium.com/the-first-sign-of-civilization-95bc3f44f956 - last download: 27/08/21. On Nation Station: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/libanon-269.html - report dated 04/08/21 - last download: 27/08/21. https://thenationstation.org/ - last download: 27/08/21. https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/eine-welt.798.de.html - programme "Eine Welt" dated 31/07/21 - last downdoad: 27/08/21. On VIs and their guides: https://www.unitedinstride.com/testimonials - last download: 28/08/21. https://www.espn.com/espnw/culture/feature/story/_/id/17613452/be-paralympic-guide-runner-chris-clarke-tells-all - last download: 28/08/21. http://www.sharingthelioncity.com/vision-impaired-connects-with-others-through-sports/ - last download: 28/08/21. https://www.guidenetzwerkdeutschland.de/lauf-guide - last download: 28/08/21.

In today's episode you'll meet teacher Mohammed Ayub, who created a free school for all girls and boys from the slums in Islamabad. We'll also discover why the colour yellow is essential when it comes to bridging the religious divide between Muslims and Christians in Kenya. Sources: https://www.colourinfaith.com - last download 14/08/21; https://www.ted.com/talks/nabila_alibhai_why_people_of_different_faiths_are_painting_their_houses_of_worship_yellow - last download 14/08/21;https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/religionen-in-kenia-farbe-fuer-den-frieden.886.de.html?dram:article_id=375419 - last download 14/08/21;https://www.dawn.com/news/1291382 - last download 14/08/21;https://www.globalvillagespace.com/master-ayubs-park-school/ - last download 14/08/21; Aljazeera news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CBOUpqTNWk - last download 14/08/21.

Did you think a park bench was just a spot to rest and have a conversation with a friend? They can be much more. Find out how park benches are used to overcome loneliness and help to bridge the age gap in this episode. Sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/second-grader-buddy-bench_n_4378248.html - last download 14/08/21; https://www.ted.com/talks/dixon_chibanda_why_i_train_grandmothers_to_treat_depression#t-721582 – last download 12/04/19; https://www.friendshipbenchzimbabwe.org/ - last download 12/04/19; https://www.friendshipbenchzimbabwe.org/youthbench - last download 12/04/19; https://www.pri.org/stories/2021-02-08/zimbabwe-talk-therapy-program-trains-grandmothers-lend-supportive-ear - last download 14/08/21; https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30166-8/fulltext - last download 14/08/21.

A little optimism to go. The world seems to be full of bad news and the human experience can be quite challenging sometimes. But something good isn't coming our way - something good is already here. In this podcast you'll find out all about things that are going in the right direction: projects, inititatives, organisations and people like you and me who are making a difference. You’ll hear stories about people from all over the world, changing their societies. Every now and then I’ll have a chat with one of them and find out what drives them, what keeps them going even when things get a little tough. In addition, I'll share all I know about implementing change - be it  your personal life or society. And maybe one of the stories you’ll hear will motivate you to get active yourself. We all can be changemakers. It starts in our own daily lives and then has ripple effect, spreading to our neighborhoods, cities, countries and the world as a whole. That’s what I believe, after all, I’m a voluntary optimist.