In this episode, I join hosts Lisa and Ryan on the Synergy podcast to explore a familiar topic—innovation and leadership—through an unfamiliar lens: nature as a catalyst for transformation.

I share a pivotal experience training with Wim Hof (the Iceman)—climbing a Polish mountain in −15 °C—and how breathwork, somatic practice, and time in wilderness reshaped my understanding of change, creativity, and leadership.

🌱 What We Explore

Emergent innovation vs. “hero” brainstorming: why sensing, play, and co-creation often outpace overthinking.

Being like water: embracing fluid identities, cross-pollination, and regeneration over rigid image-keeping.

Pattern recognition in the wild: how nature’s systems inspire product, team, and organizational design.

Restorative routines: sitting to “seed” place, taking unstructured walks, and storytelling to restore focus and presence.

AI and the natural mind: how technology can flatten ideas—and how natural systems (birch, fungi, watersheds) can help us think in living patterns.

💡 Why It Matters

If you’re a leader, innovator, or systems thinker ready to trade pressure for presence—and compliance for commitment—this conversation explores how the natural world can become a powerful co-creator and R&D partner in the way we work and lead.

→ Synergy Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/24exp6AxzfoR1uw6vaDZql?si=902324d2d2e14303

Stay in touch:
→ The Breath of Life on Substack
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about

→ Berlin Breath Walks
Slow walks using breath and forest presence to recalibrate your nervous system.
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/p/berlin-breath-walks

→ Nature Flow Lab
Outdoor, experiential sessions for teams to approach complex challenges through engaging with nature and a shift in mental state.
https://natureflowlab.com/