In this episode we speak with Mariëlle Cuijpers, one of the members of the Genuine Contact Organization about her experience working with this holistic approach and how it is contributing to her lifelong learning journey. In our conversation we touch on the importance of spirit as part of what gives meaning and how Genuine Contact allows for spirit to show up in work situations. Mariëlle shares her experience and understanding of Genuine Contact from her rich experience as a public policy researcher, a Yoga Teacher and student of Humanistic Studies. She speaks about what it was like to work as a member of the facilitation team that undertook the Strategic Plan Refresh for the Genuine Contact Organization and how it has been for her to incorporate what she is learning into her current consulting work. Through its twists and turns across many areas of life Mariëlle shares with us her joy and wonder at exploring the interconnectedness of things, and how Genuine Contact provides beautiful ways to do just that.

In this episode we talk with our colleague Dr. Helga Hohn, a psychologist based in the Netherlands. She introduces us to Gardener’s concept of multiple intelligences and we speak about the alignment we experience between his approach and the holistic worldview of the Genuine Contact way of working. Gardner's theory goes beyond IQ and EQ and distinguishes at least eight different intelligences: Visual-Spatial Intelligence, Linguistic- Verbal Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence, Intrapersonal Intelligence, Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, Musical Intelligence, Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence, and Naturalistic Intelligence. During our conversation Helga draws on her large body of theoretical and applied knowledge to shed light on the value of recognizing the unique mix of intelligence and wisdom within each person. She also talks about how Genuine Contact has enriched her work providing insights into creating learning containers where all intelligences can come out fully when people work together. Helga is also a founding Board Member of aMI, the association of Multiple Intelligences (associatie van Meervoudige Intelligenties) and was active on the Board until January 2020. She supports her clients through her organization Mantra Coaching and Personal Development. Lean more about Helga here: https://genuinecontact.net/user/helga-hohn/

In this episode we talk with our colleague Tulika from the NIIT Foundation based in  Delhi. NIIT Foundation, is a not-for-profit organization that builds skills and capacities of underserved children and you by offering  educational and skill programs for young people starting from 6 to 30 years of age. Besides this they provide are programs related to digital and financial literacy that are also for people above 30 years of age. For youth, the emphasis is on building leadership skills in order to encourage holistic development so that they can transition into work life and become self-reliant, value-creating human beings Tulika is the Senior Manager for Innovation and Organization Transformation at the NIIT foundation and as such has played an important role in the Foundation’s Conscious transformation to becoming a Genuine Contact Organization. During this Podcast, Tulika speaks with us about her personal and professional journey working with and in Genuine Contact.  She talks about how the practices and methods of Genuine Contact impact her life and the life of the organization.

In this episode we talk with our colleague Elisabeth Tepper Kofod, originally from Venezuela (via Denmark) and currently based in Madrid, Spain. Elisabeth has had a truly fascinating life, one in which she has had to learn to adapt and thrive even as the world has shifted around her. Elisabeth shares with us how she has learned to plan for the future even as she let’s go of her attachment to any outcome, such as when she made the difficult decision to leave Venezuela among due to political and economic turmoil, even at a time when her business was thriving. In this episode Elisabeth shares how she has integrated Genuine Contact into her life and how working with she has learned to plan for  the future with a full heart while also being able to let go of outcome when the outside world shifts dramatically. Find out more about Elisabeth here. 

In this episode we speak with our colleague Vibha, from India, one of the pioneers in spreading the Genuine Contact approach in India.  Vibha is a citizen of the world, working and traveling to many countries and learning and teaching in many communities. She has a commercial consultancy called Vibha Space as well  an NGO called Muskaan providing pro-bono services across the world. With both endeavors she works with the Genuine Contact to help bring people in contact with themselves and, as she puts it "to go from being to doing". In this episode we speak with Vibha in-depth about her personal journey following heart and meaning, which brought her to leave a comfortable position in an NGO and set out for herself. She speaks about how Genuine Contact provided her with tools to unite the spiritual with the practical when working with all sorts of organizations and groups.  She also shares about her Gratitude Project explaining how living and practicing gratitude has taught to trust that what you need comes to you, and how she is spreading this practice and wisdom of living in gratitude across the world. Learn more about her here.

In this episode we talk with our colleague Michael Vinson from Arkansas. He is funny, he is wise, and he is the first genuine contact minister that we know of (second is Anna Caroline’s mum). He shares his experience with faith communities that light up by working the Genuine Contact approach, and he shares how much the genuine contact beliefs put in practice are shocking yet aligned with the beliefs of the people he works with. In this episode we speak at length about the inner work he speaks about the value of having a spiritual director  - you can call it spiritual mentor - and make sure you have daily practices: to be grounded and in balance in order to be in service to others in constantly changing times. Connect with Michael here.

"The more I understand grief the more I understand that underneath grief and anger is love. " In this episode we speak with Nancy Wells, who has been working and living the Genuine Contact Way for 20 years. In her work as an Information Technology professional she combined both the intellectual and spiritual path and she shares how valuable it is to recognize feelings, and learn how to process grief - because once you learn how to do that you can land back in a place of love and acceptance. Towards the end of the podcast she offers a simple and powerful meditation. Check it out! You can learn more about Nancy here.

"Everybody needs an Eiwor" - in this episode we talk with Eiwor Backelund Jakobson from West Sweden. She has been in many leadership positions applying the Genuine Contact way of leading and working. She shares with us the highlights of her journey - she has been committed to Genuine Contact from the very beginning in 1999.  She has been at the forefront of regional political engagement in Sweden using the GC approach. In this episode she shares her extensive experience as a GC  leader. She shows how she was able to build a culture of leadership through her conduct as a leader and her consistent use of GC tools. We learned about community engagement the genuine contact way, which ensures that you are never leading alone. Find more about Eiwor.

Sabine Bredemeyer is a pioneer of Genuine Contact - working with this approach for nearly 20 years.  In this Podcast she speaks about her new book Happy Leaders Happy People Great Results. The book introduces her leadership formula - which includes purpose, health and self-discipline among other aspects - as the way to become a balanced leader. Her case studies illustrate the personal transformation it takes to become a happy leader and create outstanding results. Learn more about Sabine Bredemeyer here.

In this episode Doris & Anna Caroline speak with Thomas Herrmann about his approach to life and work. He is a certified Genuine Contact trainer from day 1 as well as a Co-Owner of the Genuine Contact organization,  and has worked with Open Space Technology for over two decades. His company is called Open Space Consulting and he speaks about the importance of being open to outcome when he is facilitating meetings and processes with large and small groups. He also shares how he and his wife traveled for 6 month - guided by the Open Space principles - being open to outcome. His text about this experience is linked here.