Stories for the future

Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Stories for the Future is a podcast about breaking out of echo chambers, building bridges across divides, and finding meaningful work in a changing world. Hosted by former petroleum geophysicist turned writer and mentor Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge, the show explores the energy transition, career pivots, and the deeper question beneath them all: How do we move forward together when we don’t see the world the same way? Through thoughtful conversations with people from oil and gas, renewables, academia, policy, psychology, entrepreneurship and beyond, Stories for the Future makes space for nuance over noise, curiosity over certainty, and collaboration over polarization. This isn’t a debate show. It’s a bridge-building show. If you care about climate, work, identity, responsibility, and the future we’re creating — and you’re tired of “us vs. them” thinking — you’ll feel at home here.

  1. FEB 26

    Not Rowing. Rafting. What This Season Is Really About

    Before diving into more guests and technologies, I wanted to pause and ask: What do I actually want this season to do? In this short solo episode, I share: Why collaboration in the energy transition is often misunderstood Why it’s less like rowing in sync — and more like rafting What this season will focus on And how the podcast will evolve going forward The energy transition doesn’t just need better technology. It needs better conversations. 🌊 Read the Substack Post I recently wrote about the difference between rowing and rafting — and why real collaboration doesn’t mean moving in perfect sync. 👉 Not Rowing. Rafting. https://vklavenes.substack.com/p/not-rowing-rafting What’s Coming This Season Monthly deep dives into concrete energy solutions Conversations across difference (not debates) Short reflections on leadership, complexity, and mindset Occasional spotlights on people working at the intersection of inner development and outer impact If this season works, I hope we become a little less certain — and a little more capable of building something together.

    11 min

  2. FEB 24

    See Your Future Before You Build It (Free Until March 8)

    This is a short, unscheduled episode. No guest. Just me. I’m sharing why I built Future Vision, a simple tool designed to help you explore a possible future before you commit to it. If you’re navigating a career pivot, building something new, questioning your direction, or standing at a crossroads, this tool helps you: Step into a future scenario Notice what excites you Spot blind spots and assumptions Feel what aligns, and what doesn’t It’s not about prediction. It’s about clarity. Until March 8. 2026, Future Vision is available free to all Substack subscribers. After that, it moves into the paid Future Fluency space. If you’re curious, this is your window. 👉 Try it here: https://vklavenes.substack.com/p/what-if-you-could-see-your-future If you use it, I’d genuinely love to hear what you think! — Veslemøy

    9 min

  3. FEB 12

    Monthly Deep Dive: Geothermal Energy – Potential, Limits, and What’s Changing

    Geothermal energy is often described as a stable, low-emission energy source. Yet in countries like Norway, it rarely features in public conversations about the energy transition. In this episode of Stories for the Future, I sit down with Stian Engebretsen, Product Manager at Aspen Technology and a long-time geothermal enthusiast, to explore what geothermal energy actually is, how it works, and why it deserves closer attention. We talk about: What geothermal energy is. The difference between traditional geothermal and newer technologies like enhanced geothermal systems. What is happening in Norway today. And what is holding geothermal back. How advances in modelling, simulation, and drilling technology are changing what’s possible. Who should be paying attention to geothermal. From engineers and energy professionals to policymakers and curious outsiders. - This episode is the first monthly deep dive of the season. A format designed to slow down, go deeper, and build shared understanding across different perspectives in the energy transition.

    40 min

  4. JAN 29

    Screw Up Happy. Andrea Wodniok on Mistakes, Playfulness, and Being Human

    What if mistakes aren’t something to hide or avoid. but something we can actually work with? In this episode of Stories for the Future, I’m joined by Andrea Wodniok for a playful, honest conversation about messiness, inner critics, and learning to screw up happy. Andrea works with applied improv, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and the Hero’s Journey. She helps people with public speaking, communication, creativity, and confidence. always with a strong focus on playfulness, presence, and being human. Together, we explore: Why we’re often so afraid of getting things wrong What improv can teach us about courage and uncertainty How ACT helps loosen the grip of the inner critic Why mistakes don’t define us. but often help us grow And how a little more playfulness might help us treat both ourselves and each other better This episode is part of the Creative Space series, where I speak with members of the Creative Space community about meaningful work, good lives, and navigating change with curiosity and care for both people and planet. 🔗 Links & resources Andrea Wodniok Website LinkedIn Creative Space Learn more about the community: https://creativespace.community Listen & join the conversation on Fountain Listen on Fountain and comment on the episode: https://fountain.fm/show/HCauLD0VwNtnLP8CZ5KU On Fountain, you can comment directly on episodes, join the listener community, and support the podcast simply by listening. 🌱 About Stories for the Future Stories for the Future is a podcast about breaking out of echo chambers, building bridges, and finding meaningful work in a changing world. You can find me and my work here: Podcast & website Substack If this episode resonated, feel free to share it with someone who might need a reminder not to take everything so seriously. And, as always. don’t be afraid to screw up happy.

    51 min

  5. JAN 15

    From Tourist to Traveler: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything, with Charles Odom from Painted Circle

    In this episode I sit down with Charles Odom, solo founder of Painted Circle, a purpose-driven travel platform that’s reimagining how we book — and experience — travel. Charles shares why being intentional with our travel choices matters now more than ever, how the traditional tourism model is broken, and what it means to travel in a way that benefits both you and the communities you visit. You’ll also hear the story behind Painted Circle, the surprising economics of travel commissions, and why travel can be one of the most powerful tools we have in a divided world. This is the first episode in a new mini-series spotlighting members of Creative Space — a global community for solopreneurs, coaches and creatives. 💡 What We Talk About: The meaning of intentional travel The hidden costs of online booking platforms Why Painted Circle doesn’t take commissions from tour operators How to create travel memories that truly last The ups and downs of solopreneurship — and the power of community 🔗 Links & Resources: 🌍 Painted Circle – Travel with Purpose 💸 Use code STORIES for a discount on the Travel Pass 🧠 Creative Space Community 🎙️ Learn more about the podcast: storiesforthefuture.com 📝 Subscribe to Veslemøy’s newsletter: vklavenes.substack.com 🗣️ Let’s Connect: If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or drop me a message. I’d love to hear your thoughts — and your own stories of intentional travel. Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

    1h 3m

  6. 12/11/2025

    GeoEnergy 2025: A Geothermal Special. Conversations, Innovations, and the Future of Subsurface Energy

    Geothermal at GeoEnergy 2025, Bergen, Norway A special episode recorded in Bergen, Norway Did you know the heat beneath our feet could power communities almost anywhere in the world? In this episode, I take you with me to GeoEnergy 2025, a conference dedicated entirely to geothermal energy — from shallow systems to deep wells and next-generation closed-loop designs. I share my own journey into geothermal, what I learned at the conference, and short conversations with people working across the field. If you’re curious about geothermal or work in oil & gas and wonder how your subsurface skills can transfer: this one’s for you. 🔊 Voices from the Episode Featuring short interviews and insights from: Bjarte Lønøy, GEAN – Geothermal Energy Association of Norway Kirsti Midttømme, NORCE Kim Gunn Maver, Green Therma Jesper Moberg, Norsk Retningsboring Øystein Klemetsdal, SINTEF Digital What You’ll Learn What geothermal energy actually is (in simple language) Why Norway has huge potential — and big drilling challenges New closed-loop systems (“underground thermos bottles”) How oil & gas skills translate directly into geothermal Why visibility, communication, and scale matter How digital twins can accelerate deployment 💛 Thank You Huge thanks to GEAN, and especially Bjarte Lønøy and Kirsti Midttømme, for welcoming me into the geothermal community at GeoEnergy 2025. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone curious about the future of energy. Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch. You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

    23 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    Get Off the Fence: Leadership Lessons for a Warming World, with Charlie Sheppard

    🎙️ Episode: Get Off the Fence – Leadership Lessons for a Warming World What happens when leadership replaces drama with disciplined choice? This week, I sit down with Charles Sheppard — author, professor of leadership, and founder of World Bridge University — to explore how systems thinking can help us move from confusion to clarity in the face of climate change. Charlie has spent decades helping people and organizations escape the Drama Triangle — the cycle of Victim, Rescuer, and Adversary — and replace it with The Leadership Triangle: Visionary, Catalyst, and Coach. Now he’s applying that same framework to the climate crisis. We talk about why so many people still sit on the fence, how disinformation and social media shape our beliefs, and what it means to lead — in our families, workplaces, and communities — when the stakes couldn’t be higher. 💬 In this episode: Why leadership and systems thinking are key to tackling the climate crisis How to reach the “middle 60%” who still sit on the fence The role of language, storytelling, and education in climate communication What we can learn from his new venture, World Bridge University How AI (and even biotech!) fit into his vision for a better future 🌍 About Charles Sheppard Charles Sheppard is a Professor of Leadership, author of Get Off the Fence and Save Your Drama for Your Mama, and founder of World Bridge University. He’s also the cofounder of Arjuna Therapeutics, a biotech company developing breakthrough cancer treatments — and a passionate advocate for systems thinking, education reform, and climate leadership. 🪴 Connect with Charles Website Book: Get Off the Fence – Amazon LinkedIn World Bridge University Arjuna Therapeutics 🌟 If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or colleague who’s ready to get off the fence. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe to Stories for the Future on your favorite platform — or join me on Substack for behind-the-scenes reflections and future fluency insights. Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch. You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

    57 min

  8. 10/30/2025

    Live from Beyond Oil 2025: Actionable Hope in a Changing Climate Future.

    In this special episode of Stories for the Future, I moderate a panel at the Beyond Oil Conference 2025: Changing Climate Futures conference in Bergen. Our theme: Actionable Hope in a Changing Climate Future. We talk about what hope does when the world feels like it’s unraveling — and what it looks like when hope becomes something you act on. In this episode you’ll hear voices from science, media, creative arts and strategy — and come away with ideas for how to lean into hope, not just as a feeling, but as a modality of change. 👥 Panel & Conference Links Here are the people on the panel and links to their work so you can dive deeper: Kikki Flesche Kleiven — Director of the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen. Marine geologist by training; leads a large interdisciplinary climate‑research centre. Petter Gulli — Founder & Chief Hope Officer at 12YEARS; an outspoken climate optimist, strategist and author of HOPE – A practical guide for climate optimists. Thea Emilie Maubach‑Vindnes — Spokesperson for the media initiative Verdens Beste Nyheter (“The World’s Best News”), and also affiliated with the civil‑society group Changemaker. Verdens beste nyheter Anne Beate Hovind — Chair of the Future Library project. This is a century‑long literary/art project where 1,000 trees were planted in Nordmarka, and each year one author contributes a manuscript, to be published in 2114. About the project: https://www.futurelibrary.no/ futurelibrary.no Conference reference: Beyond Oil 2025: Changing Climate Futures — An interdisciplinary, international biennial conference hosted by the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET) at the University of Bergen. Conference website: https://www.uib.no/en/cet/173079/beyond-oil-2025-changing-climate-futures Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch. You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

    51 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Stories for the Future is a podcast about breaking out of echo chambers, building bridges across divides, and finding meaningful work in a changing world. Hosted by former petroleum geophysicist turned writer and mentor Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge, the show explores the energy transition, career pivots, and the deeper question beneath them all: How do we move forward together when we don’t see the world the same way? Through thoughtful conversations with people from oil and gas, renewables, academia, policy, psychology, entrepreneurship and beyond, Stories for the Future makes space for nuance over noise, curiosity over certainty, and collaboration over polarization. This isn’t a debate show. It’s a bridge-building show. If you care about climate, work, identity, responsibility, and the future we’re creating — and you’re tired of “us vs. them” thinking — you’ll feel at home here.

Information

  • Creator
    Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Stories for the future