In today's episode, Claudia and her guest Trude Stene (originally fro Norway, based in Switzerland) shares her transformative journey that began 23 years ago when she faced blindness after her daughter's birth, leading her to dedicate her life to humanitarian work through Future for Children and later Triple Solution Skincare—a social enterprise that empowers women in Uganda, Nepal, and the Amazon while addressing environmental challenges. Trude's journey is on full speed. When she was blind, she made a promise to herself. Listen how her promise keeps unfolding.

Christine Wächter-Campbell shares her journey from working in male-dominated art galleries in the 1980s-90s in New York City, to co-founding her own gallery in the mid 90s. She points out how men always have been her mentors and that she never had to deal with harassment - except for one pivotal incident Christine, an avid supporter of the arts, particularly the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, where she is on the board. And BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), where her husband Bill Campbell is one the board. Christine further shares, hoe she and her husband wanted to spend a significant amount of time on impactful global health work. They started the END Fund, which has treated a billion people for neglected tropical diseases over 20 years. This conversation explores stepping out of comfort zones to focus on areas of crisis, demonstrating how hands-on activism in global health can be deeply rewarding and connecting work.

Gilly Norton founded SWV (Supporting Wounded Veterans) as a Charity more then 15 years ago. Soldiers returned from frontlines and were in acute need of pain management support, mentoring, employment support. Gilly and team went to work. They raised funds and organized a Skiing Week in the Swiss mountains, in the village of Klosters. SWV started pain clinics in the UK, worked with donors, other foundations, the government to increase the funding for clinical trials on PTSD and other necessary measures. Asked what the main challenges are: people are often declaring problems "too difficult to solve," but one needs to stick to it, be consistent, raise funds wherever possible and maintain the momentum through long development cycles. Gilly emphasizes the "magical atmosphere" created when people unite to genuinely change someone's life—"not often in a life you get the chance". Success requires believing in the mission and "keeping the faith" through setbacks

In today's episode - the finale of Season 5 - I am in conversation with luminary and renowned New York based gynecologist , Dr. Molly McBride. She shares how amazing it is to pivot later in life, how she enjoys being 60, and we talk about menopause - how it was for herself (tough) and how she helps women to manage this often complex time in life (peri-menopause, menopause, post-menopause). Dr. McBride is a passionate advocate for women's health and openly says, that she is disappointed in many of her colleagues, who simply still avoid to gain deeper knowledge about menopause and it's possible health consequences for women - from brain fog to osteoporosis, from "not feeling myself" to cardio-vascular diseases. Dr. McBride offers cutting edge services - and stresses the importance of listening to her patients, and validating their often still dismissed symptoms. She is a strong proponent of HRT - where applicable. She just relocated her practice to the Flat Iron district in Manhattan. And - being usually a step ahead, now also offers individual health plans for men. Enjoy this lively and informative episode. Listen in, feel heard - and I'll be back in the begining of the New Year with Season 6! Happy Holidays.

Today I am in conversation with Helen Schulman, an acclaimed novelist, screenwriter, short story writer and New York Times Bestselling author. We talk about the concept of "sympathetic happiness": Helen shares her impactful encounter with the Dalai Lama many years back. She stumbled upon him speaking giving a free audience publicly in Portland, and she listened to him for the first time. His topic was "sympathetic happiness" - the idea being that if you can join in the happiness of others, your own happiness will multiply. Helen internalised this learning in her practice as a professor, teaching writing at The New School in NYC. She says, that since then she has been not only happy for her students, but actually focussing on being happy through them. Helen talks about her new book "Fools for Love" and our conversation actually took place on the first day of her Sabbatical, which she will spend in Paris with her husband, working on historical fiction.

In today's episode, East-German born, New York based artist, Cornelia Thomsen shares her story of finding her way into becoming an artist. She gives insights into her socialistic upbringing in a small village near Dresden, and how she managed to get accepted to be trained as a porcelain painter at famous Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Cornelia (a humble powerhouse!) shares how she had believed that the world she lived in would be it, until the Fall of the Berlin Wall, when she stormed into the big world and embraced it. Her worldview became liberated by the discovery of abstract art. Cornelia talks about resilience being her super power, and how she persistently worked as an artists, went to art school near Frankfurt (with two small children at home), moved to New York and started a gallery together with her husband (and meanwhile 3 children). Cornelia and I have known each other for almost 20 years, sharing experiences and emotions, raising children in Manhattan - an East German and a West German united on neutral grounds. Her work has been shown internationally, and is in collections of world renowned museums like LACMA in LA, museum of fine arts in Houston, the Parrasch Art Museum in Watermill, New York and others. AND: In August, just briefly after recording this episode, her newest series of works, the complete sets of Golden Ratio Series have been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Trish Glowacki shares her journey and what lead her to founding the Glowmedia Project and its work on youth mental health awareness. Trish, a screenwriter, playwright and producer, mother of three, lost her son Charlie in 2011 to an accidental overdose. In his honor, she started to create a musical, films and resources on youth mental health topics. The Glowmedia project has produced a musical "Warning. Take Only As Prescribed." and 9 short films on various mental health issues, with curriculum and expert input, reaching millions through partnerships with i.e. "Discovery Education". Glowmedia works with organizations, schools, educators, parents and youth. Trish emphasizes the importance of student input, self-care, and persistence on continuing the mission to reduce mental health stigma.

In my conversation with New York based, American-Pakistani artist, Tanya Minhas, we explore the invisible in art. Tanya shares her fascination for nature and the tiny moments, that inspire her thinking and her work. She shares the moment, that made it inevitable for her to commit fully to a life as an artist. It had to do with facing challenges, grief and searching for a language to be able to truly express herself and her emotions. As she quoted from a book she once read "Life is not all HiHi-HaHa". Tanya's Pakistani heritage strongly influences her work, particularly her current show on view at Winston Wächter Fine Art in New York City " A Tapestry of Dreams". Tanya integrates and balances her artistic practice with family life, working when possible in a meditative state.

Today I am in conversation with Dr. Anino Emuwa, a former corporate banker, managing director Avandis Consulting and founder of the global community 100 Women @ Davos. Dr. Anino is tireless in her effort to advocate for gender equality in leadership across all sectors, and to speak up for parity policies. As she did last year at the United Nation General Assembly. Listen in and hear how Dr. Anino is on a role and how she herself never felt as a minority in her time growing up and studying. Her focus is always lead by reflecting on "What the World needs."

Today I am sitting down with life long stand up comedian Carole Montgomery. Carole is a classic in show biz, a Brooklynite through and through, she has performed all over the United States. Being a stand up comedian has been her fulltime job. Until she turned 50. Her environment signaled her silently but clearly, that her time is done, over, chapter closed. She shifted and worked as a producer, comedy teacher, and writer to stay connected in the business. At 59 she had a break through idea: Funny Women of A Certain Age. A stand up comedy show featuring older comedian women. With a talent pool of about 100 artists, Carole has been producing shows for the past ten years, TV channel SHOWTIME made three Comedy Specials with Funny Women of A Certain Age. Listen to a conversation about ageism, about how funny never gets old, and about facing the truth. Carole loves playing for younger audiences, she is not afraid, as they look at her as though she's Yoda. Anything is possible really. Nothing is a matter of age, but of spirit and choice. Season 5 is supported by eponymous London based jewellery brand TILLY SVEAAS! Go to www.tillysveaas.com and use my code SHIFTHAPPENS at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.