The Breath of Life with Yulia Bogdanova

About The Breath of Life with Yulia Bogdanova

Live conversations with people whose lives are shaped by interconnectedness. On what makes us feel alive, and pulse with the breath of life. How would our life and decisions change if we could experience interconnectedness—not just intellectually, but in our bones? With fellow humans and other beings in this tapestried world. Connect with me: https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about)

Publisher

Yulia Bogdanova

Category

education · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jun 2025

Latest episode

15 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Jan 2026

   Inner Rewilding as a Lived Practice with Holly Copeland

   In this episode of Breath of Life, I’m in conversation with Holly Erin Copeland, a former conservation ecologist, who now describes her work as guiding people to the wild within. We explore the body as a place of knowing, the limits of purely cognitive understanding, the importance of felt, embodied experience, and what it means to stay open-hearted in the midst of global crisis. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Inner Rewilding 05:36 The Journey of Transformation 09:28 The Role of Inner Work in Activism 14:19 Four Pillars of Heart Opening 30:32 Embodiment and the Human Experience 35:11 Trusting the Process of Life 37:59 The Journey of Trust and Letting Go 42:36 Connecting with Nature for Healing 47:14 Experiencing Interconnectedness Beyond Altered States 48:26 Aligning with Your Wild Heart 51:15 Navigating Good and Evil in the Human Experience 57:30 The Power of Collective Experience 01:02:45 Practical Steps for Inner Rewilding About the guest Holly Erin Copeland is a former conservation ecologist and former Director of Science at a nature conservancy. After years of environmental work shaped by urgency, burnout, and grief about the state of the planet, her path shifted inward. Today, she guides people toward what she calls the wild within, working at the intersection of meditation, somatic practice, and nature connection. Holly is the author of Inner Rewilding. → Holly on Substack: (https://oliviasayworth.substack.com/)https://hollyerincopeland.substack.com/ (https://hollyerincopeland.substack.com/) → Rewilded Morning Ritual Guide: https://holly-copeland.mykajabi.com/ (https://holly-copeland.mykajabi.com/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://substack.com/@yuliabogdanova (https://substack.com/@yuliabogdanova) → Connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliabogdanova/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliabogdanova/) → 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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

2. 

   12 Dec 2025

   What Forests Teach Us About Regeneration with Wendy Peterman

   In this episode of the Breath of Life podcast, Yulia talks with Wendy Peterman, a forest soil scientist and conservationist with over 20 years of experience working in land management and environmental systems. We explore what forests can teach us about regeneration, resilience, and working with complexity rather than against it. The conversation moves between science and lived experience touching on nature connection, empathy, leadership, conservation work, and what happens when human systems forget they are part of living systems. Chapters 00:00 Growing up in forests and early belonging 04:20 Nature connection and “nature deficit disorder” 07:40 Soil, humus, and the role of decomposition 10:30 Forests as home, regulation, and perspective 14:10 Complexity, interdependence, and forest systems 18:00 Science, empathy, and holistic thinking 22:45 Human systems vs. living systems 27:05 Leadership, listening, and adaptability 31:20 Forests, resilience, and learning from failure 35:30 Apex predators, balance, and power 41:45 Disconnection, domination, and modern culture 46:00 Forest Thinking and practical applications 52:10 Closing reflections About the guest Wendy Peterman is a forest soil scientist and conservationist with more than two decades of experience working in land management and environmental systems. She grew up in the forests of Northern California and has spent her career studying soil, forest ecology, and complex living systems. Today, she supports grassroots and conservation organizations in developing resilient structures that honor relationship, balance, and regeneration. She is the author of Forest Thinking. → Wendy on Substack: (https://oliviasayworth.substack.com/)https://substack.com/@wendybrd (https://substack.com/@wendybrd) → Pattern Synthesis webpage: https://patternsynthesis.com/ (https://patternsynthesis.com/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://substack.com/@yuliabogdanova (https://substack.com/@yuliabogdanova) → Connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliabogdanova/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliabogdanova/) → 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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

3. 

   29 Nov 2025

   Body As the Place of Knowing with Eline Kieft

   In this episode, Yulia talks with Elina Kieft, a Qigong teacher, a shamanic practitioner, dancer, and anthropologist. They explore the body as a place of knowing, a bridge between self and nature. Elina shares her journey from dance and anthropology to Qigong and shamanic work, and how movement, breath, and imagination connect us to the life force that flows through all things. The conversation touches on animism, embodied consciousness, empathy, archetypes, and the wisdom of trees and animals as teachers. 00:00 The Body as a Place of Knowing 05:40 Dance, Nature, and Early Curiosity 10:30 Remembering Lost Senses and Intuitive Knowing 15:40 Sensitivity, Pain, and Living in a Human Body 20:05 The Alchemy of Qigong 26:15 Animals, Elements, and Seasons as Teachers 31:10 Shape-shifting and Embodied Empathy 34:20 Archetypes as Patterns of Energy 37:25 The Body’s Literacy and Ways of Perceiving 43:30 Learning Through the Body 45:30 Simple Practices to Reconnect — The Wisdom of Trees About the guest: Elina Kleft is a shamanic practitioner, dancer, anthropologist, and Qigong teacher. Born in the Netherlands and having lived across Europe and Africa, she brings together movement, nature connection, and embodied awareness. Her work explores how breath, body, and imagination can open us to a deeper relationship with the world. She teaches Qigong, mentors individuals, and leads programs that draw on movement, archetypes, and the natural elements. →  Eline on Substack: https://elinekieft.substack.com/ (https://elinekieft.substack.com/) →  Eline’s webpage: https://www.elinekieft.com/ (https://www.elinekieft.com/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

4. 

   12 Nov 2025

   Nature as Catalyst: A New Lens on Innovation and Leadership with Yulia Bogdanova

   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 (https://open.spotify.com/show/24exp6AxzfoR1uw6vaDZql?si=902324d2d2e14303) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

5. 

   29 Oct 2025

   Through the Seasons with Nature and Self with Charlotte Rogg

   In this episode, Yulia talks with Charlotte Rogg, a death doula, artist, and educator exploring the cycles of nature, grief, and renewal. Charlotte talks about what the seasons can teach us about living and dying — how change, decay, and rest are all part of the same cycle. She shares ways to notice the world through the senses, to find meaning in darkness, and to let winter and stillness do their work. We also talk about death care, grief, and belonging, and how staying close to the natural world can help us meet all of it with more courage and resilience. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Death and Nature 07:21 The Role of Mushrooms in Life and Death 10:56 Understanding Seasons Through a Death Doula's Lens 16:14 Navigating Life Transitions with Seasonal Awareness 21:19 Embracing Darkness and Winter 26:42 The Importance of Community in Seasonal Changes 32:02 Launching the Mail Club for Seasonal Connection About the guest Charlotte Rogg is a death doula, artist, and educator based in Boston. She works with people around death, grief, and change, and explores how the natural world mirrors those experiences. Charlotte sees her work as a way of staying close to the rhythm of life — noticing how everything moves through cycles of growth, stillness, loss, and renewal, and helping others find their own way of being with that. →  Charlotte on Substack: https://metamorphosisworks.substack.com/ (https://metamorphosisworks.substack.com/) →  Charlotte’s webpage: https://www.charlotterogg.com/ (https://www.charlotterogg.com/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

6. 

   17 Oct 2025

   For the Love of Trees with Kath Almond

   In this episode, Yulia talks with Kath Almond, an Earth influencer and Syntropic storyteller, exploring the kinship-like connection between humans and nature, particularly through the lens of trees. Kath shares her journey from climate activism to a more uniting approach of storytelling for the love of the Earth. We talk about trees as ancient intelligent beings, the wisdom they have for us, and practical ways to reconnect with the rest of nature through them. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Earth Influencing and Syntropic Storytelling 04:34 The Essence of Syntropic Storytelling 09:10 The Connection with Trees 15:13 Intimacy and Trust in Relationships with Trees 22:05 The Magic of Tree Communication 28:11 Stories of Trees and Their Wisdom 34:29 Reconnecting with Nature and Belonging About the guest Kath Almond is an Earth influencer and Syntropic storyteller based between Germany and Aotearoa, New Zealand. After a career in marketing, she left the corporate world to speak for her love of Mother Earth, telling stories that inspire togetherness. →  Kath on Substack: https://substack.com/@earthinfluencer (https://substack.com/@earthinfluencer) →  Kath’s webpage: https://earthinfluencers.org/ (https://earthinfluencers.org/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

7. 

   1 Oct 2025

   Language as Living Energy with Eugene Terekhin

   In this episode, Yulia talks with philologist, philosopher, and writer Eugene Terekhin about the energy and other unseen powers of spoken language. They explore how words are more than data, how sound shapes matter, why language can act like spells, and how Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the Inklings saw language as a doorway into the unseen. The conversation weaves together philosophy, creativity, spirituality, and practices for re-enchanting our daily lives. 00:00 The Energy of Spoken Language 06:49 Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the Inklings on Language 11:16 Words as Living Energy 16:00 Attunement and Sensing Through Language 22:20 Magic, Technology, and Elvish Tongues 30:59 Sub-creation and Creativity 39:01 Prayer as Breath and Response 43:45 Words as Spells 47:09 Re-enchantment Practices About the guest Eugene Terekhin is a philologist, philosopher, and translator with a background in English and German linguistics and philology. Author of Eleven Hidden Gems in the Works of the Inklings: The Music of Iluvatar in the Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Owen Barfield →  Eugine on Substack: https://eugeneterekhin.substack.com/ (https://eugeneterekhin.substack.com/) →  Eugine’s bookstore: https://restandtrust.org/ (https://restandtrust.org/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

8. 

   9 Sept 2025

   Living with the Dead with Perdita Finn

   In this episode, Yulia talks with writer and teacher Perdita Finn, author of Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and the forthcoming Mothers of Magic: Summoning the Wisdom of Our Ancestors. They explore death, our relationship with the dead, and how reconnecting with ancestors can transform grief and fear into belonging and love. The conversation weaves together ecology, ritual, intuition, and everyday practices for living with the dead as companions and guides. 00:00 Death as Part of Life 06:20 Civilization, Fear, and Separation from the Dead 13:45 Cycles of Return and Ecological Belonging 21:30 Asking the Dead for Help 31:15 Grief, Ritual, and Letting Go 38:40 What Failure Teaches Through the Dead 45:10 From Fear to Faith 49:30 Resources and Closing Reflections About the guest: Perdita Finn is the author of Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and the forthcoming Mothers of Magic: Summoning the Wisdom of Our Ancestors. She describes the dead themselves as her teachers — offering guidance with a perspective that is long, generous, intimate, and deeply loving. Through her writing, workshops, and courses, she helps people learn to “see with the eyes of the dead” while still alive, transforming grief, deepening connection, and rewilding our spiritual lives. →  Perdita on Substack: https://perditafinn.substack.com/ (https://perditafinn.substack.com/) →  Way of the Rose Community: https://wayoftherose.org/ (https://wayoftherose.org/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

9. 

   21 Aug 2025

   On the revealing nature of silence with Mark McCartney

   In this episode, Yulia talks with coach and writer Mark McCartney, creator of What is a Good Life? and the Silent Conversations series. They explore how silence changes group dynamics, and allows for deeper presence and unexpected connection. Chapters: 00:00 Exploring Silence and Connection 04:03 The Power of Shared Silence 10:24 Words and Their Meanings 16:13 The Nature of Human Connection 21:34 Embracing Our Animalistic Nature 26:17 Paying Attention to Life's Intelligence 28:33 Simplicity in Life's Complexity 31:02 Defining a Good Life About the guest: Mark McCartney is a coach, writer, and podcast host based in Berlin, originally from Dublin. He’s the creator of the What Is a Good Life? project, which includes nearly 300 interviews, a podcast, and a forthcoming book. He also leads Silent Conversations—sessions designed to move beyond labels, roles, and constant talking, and into presence, attention, and shared experience. →  Mark on Substack: https://www.whatisagood.life/ (https://www.whatisagood.life/) →  Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

10. 

    30 Jul 2025

    Life through nonduality lens with Kat van Oudheusden

    In this Life in Flow episode, I spoke with Kat van Oudheusden about non-duality—the idea that the “separate self” we work so hard to manage might not be real. And on ways to step beyond the illusion of a separate self. Time codes: 00:00 Introduction & What Is Non-Duality? 06:00 The Illusion of Separation 09:00 Awareness and the Nature of Reality 14:57 Leadership and Letting Go of Control 20:55 Thinking, Identity & the Role of Inquiry 27:13 Living Beyond the Illusion 32:58 Final Reflections & Closing 🔗 Links & Resources: → Kat on Substack: https://dailynonduality.substack.com/ (https://dailynonduality.substack.com/) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

11. 

    18 Jul 2025

    Adventure as Medicine with Nikos Nikolaou

    In this episode, Yulia talks with Nikos Nikolaou—writer, spearfisher, cyclist—about adventure not as an activity, but as a way of being. Nikos shares how engaging with wild places, physical challenge, and deep conversation brings him back to what feels real. Chapters: 00:00 – What adventure means and why it matters 04:00 – Spearfishing explained: breath-holding, precision, and instinct 11:40 – The freshness of the real: what screens can’t replace 17:00 – Fulfillment, purpose, and feeding your family 22:30 – Weekend adventures as antidote to overload 28:00 – How conversation can also be an adventure 33:00 – Noticing tracks, following curiosity, and expanding awareness 🔗 Links & Resources: → Nikos on Substack: https://substack.com/@nikosnikolaou (https://substack.com/@nikosnikolaou) Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life on Substack https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about (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 (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/ (https://natureflowlab.com/)

12. 

    3 Jul 2025

    Episode 5: What can sorcery teach us about creativity?

    Birna shares her recovery from chronic pain through belief and creativity with Yulia Bogdanova, discussing neuroscience, fear, and nature's role in reigniting imagination in this interview.

13. 

    26 Jun 2025

    Episode 4: Lonely together: on the systemic nature of loneliness with Monika Jiang

    Host Yulia Bogdanova and Monika Jiang discuss loneliness as a systemic issue shaped by culture, tech, and work, further exploring the importance of feeling and creating community through shared experiences in this interview.

14. 

    22 Jun 2025

    Episode 3: On inner work as the foundation of changemaking with Nico Streng

    Nico Streng discusses his transition from corporate sustainability to regeneration, highlighting the importance of inner work and joy to avoid burnout when creating change in an interview with Yulia Bogdanova.

15. 

    13 Jun 2025

    Episode 2: How Mushrooms shape the world and our place in it with Olivia Sayward

    Olivia Sayward discusses how mushrooms foster connection and healing, exploring their medicinal benefits and role in nature's web, in this interview with Yulia Bogdanova.

16. 

    5 Jun 2025

    Episode 1: The solution isn’t more water, but a new relationship with it with Marius Müller

    Marius Müller discusses how a new perspective on water reshapes food production and urban design, fostering a deeper connection with ecosystems in this interview with Yulia Bogdanova.

Who has been a guest on The Breath of Life with Yulia Bogdanova

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Birna
• Monika Jiang
• Nico Streng
• Olivia Sayward
• Marius Müller

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