Choosing to Matter

Chris Luebkeman
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What does it mean to live with intention in a world that pulls us in every direction? This podcast explores the everyday decisions that shape our futures. Hosted by Chris Luebkeman and brought to you by [Y]our 2040, each episode invites a guest to slow down, share a drink, and reflect on how they navigate complexity, purpose, and change. From creatives to change-makers, these are honest conversations that spark action and remind us we all have the power to choose to matter.

  1. FEB 11

    Crafting Hospitality and Clarity with Andreas Stöckli

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Crafting Hospitality and Clarity with Andreas Stöckli Episode 13 In this episode, Chris sits down with Andreas Stöckli, hotelier, chef-turned-general manager, and steward of one of Zurich's landmark hotels. From cutting his fingers as a teenage apprentice in the kitchen to guiding a historic property through its transformation into a five-star destination, Andreas has built his career on hospitality with people at the center. His journey spans adventures abroad and hard-learned lessons in kitchens from South Africa to The Bahamas, charting a steady climb from chef's whites to the front office. What drives Andreas is the belief that hospitality is about honesty, presence, and creating spaces where others feel safe and cared for. In this conversation, he reflects on leadership as clarity in action, balancing tradition with innovation, weaving sustainability into luxury, and the quiet strength of influencing what we can. This is a conversation about leadership, hospitality, and the power of belonging. 🍸 Cocktail of the episode: A straight, smoky whisky. honest, raw, and clear. 🎧 A thought to leave you with: How might leadership look if we approached it like the hospitality industry - creating clarity, care, and belonging for everyone we serve?   Episode Resources: Andreas Stöckli Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Recorded at the Schweizerhof Hotel Zürich Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    47 min

  2. FEB 10

    Turning Capital into Positive Energy with Christin ter Braak-Forstinger

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Turning Capital into Positive Energy with Christin ter Braak-Forstinger Episode 12 In this episode, Chris sits down with Christin ter Braak-Forstinger, impact investor, author, and co-founder of Chi Impact Capital. From growing up in a small baroque Austrian town to leading one of Europe's pioneering circular investment firms, Christin's journey has been shaped by passion, clarity of purpose, and a belief that finance supports a fulfilling life. Her story is colored by memories of fly fishing with her father, the influence of a warmhearted grandmother who urged her to "move mountains," and a serendipitous turn that kept her from working in the World Trade Center just days before 9/11. What drives Christin is the conviction that money is positive energy, and that intentional investment can solve root causes. She reflects on co-founding Brave Aurora, an NGO in Ghana that shaped her mission, and on building Chi Impact Capital to back transformative, regenerative business models. Together, we explore themes of systems change, collective responsibility, and how intention, in both yoga and finance, can shape the futures we create. This is an inspiring conversation about the power of investing with purpose. 🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Basil Smash 🎧 A thought to leave you with: How might your money serve you, and others better? Episode Resources Christin ter Braak-Forstinger Chi Impact Capital Conscious Investing by Christin ter Braak-Forstinger Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Recorded at the Schweizerhof Hotel Zurich Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    54 min

  3. JAN 14

    Poetic Trails with Darco Cazin

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Poetic Trails with Darco Cazin Episode 11 In this episode, Chris meets with Darco Cazin, child of the Alps, entrepreneur, and founder of Allegra. From a Swiss mountain village to building an international movement for sustainable mountain biking, his path is shaped by the clarity of alpine life and a curiosity for the wider world. His story interlaces building trails with his grandfather, a mother's dream of running a hotel, and his own commitment to give back to the mountains that raised him. What moves him is simple: black coffee, water from the stream, and ideas that matter. Darco reflects on creating Allegra as a platform for others to thrive, slowing down into stillness, and exploring how poetry, open space, and presence can shape the future of communities. Themes of identity, resilience, and shared imagination run through his journey as he speaks to what it means to live authentically in changing times. This is a conversation about belonging, contribution, and the courage to release, so that something new may emerge." 🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Black coffee 🎧 A thought to leave you with: What trails are you leaving behind for others to walk along? Episode Resources: Darco Cazin Darco's Substack: https://darcocazin.substack.com/ Allegra's: www.helloallegra.com   Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Recorded at the Schweizerhof Hotel Zürich Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    49 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    Shaping Philanthropy's Next Chapter with Sarah Howard

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Shaping Philanthropy's Next Chapter with Sarah Howard Episode 10 In this episode, Chris sits down with Sarah Howard, connector, storyteller, and Managing Director of the Global Philanthropy Forum. From her beginnings in California as a filmmaker capturing human stories across South Sudan, Honduras, and small island states, Sarah has woven together a career at the intersection of media, philanthropy, and systems change. Her journey has been shaped as much by serendipity, as by her own determination to engage with the world directly. What drives Sarah is a belief that philanthropy can be society's "risk capital," helping us leap into new possibilities at a time of tectonic shifts in climate, technology, and governance. She shares how legacy, storytelling, and lived experience inform her work to make philanthropy fit for purpose in the 21st century, while also exploring the deeper human values that must guide how we shape the future. This is a conversation about vision, legacy, and the drive to design new systems of value. 🍸 Cocktail of the episode: A Vesper martini 🎧 A thought to leave you with: What philanthropic risks would you take today to ensure a better tomorrow for all?   Episode Resources: Sarah Howard Global Philanthropy Forum Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    44 min

  5. 12/03/2025

    Physics, Serendipity, and the Future of Journalism with Felix Graf

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Physics, Serendipity, and the Future of Journalism with Felix Graf Episode 9 In this episode, Chris sits down with Felix Graf, physicist turned media leader, lifelong learner, and jazz enthusiast. From a youth steeped in music and philosophy to his PhD in quantum optics; he is now CEO of Switzerland's biggest newspaper. Felix's path has been anything but linear. Hes traveled the world and has worked in more industries than anyone we know. A love affair with Brazil, his father's advice and many serendipitous turns make his story both surprising and deeply human. At the heart of Felix's work is a search for the right questions. Whether in physics, energy, or journalism, he has been guided by curiosity, resilience, and the conviction that truth and communication matter for a thriving democracy. Together, we explore themes of technology, responsibility, collective action, and how we can imagine a livable future without making it "simpler than it is." This is a conversation about serendipity, leadership, and the choices that shape our shared tomorrow. 🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Mojito (virgin) 🎧 A thought to leave you with: What role does trusted journalism play in sustaining the kind of community you want to live in?   Episode Resources Felix Graf NZZ Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Recorded at Schweizerhof Hotel Zürich Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    44 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    Narratives that Move the World with Ana Rold

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Narratives that Move the World with Ana Rold Episode 8 In this episode, Chris sits down with Ana Rold, media entrepreneur, futurist, and founder of Diplomatic Courier and World in 2050. Ana was a child refugee who learned to adapt to new surroundings and gained a unique perspective on how other cultures and societies live. Years later, after moving to the USA, she went on to build platforms that shape global dialogues. Her journey is marked by resilience, curiosity, and communication. Her move to Boston opened the door to new cultures, ideas, and possibilities; a turning point that set her on the path toward building Diplomatic Courier a global platform for meaningful dialogues.   What drives Ana is a conviction that truth and storytelling matter in building collective intelligence for a better world. She reflects on navigating disinformation, the role of narratives in shaping belief, and how fostering dialogue across divides can help the future "arrive well." Together, she and Chris explore themes of resilience, foresight, and the responsibility of turning words into action. This is a conversation about truth, dialogue, and the courage to create spaces where ideas drive change.   🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Cape Cod 🎧 A thought to leave you with: How are you using your voice, today, to shape a future you want to live in? Episode Resources: Ana Rold Diplomatic Courier World in 2050 Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    42 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    Coffee, Resilience, and Supply Chains with Ramon Schalch

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Coffee, Resilience, and Supply Chains with Ramon Schalch Episode 7   In this episode, Chris sits down with Ramon Schalch, CEO of Vi Collective, hiker, cyclist, and lifelong adventurer. From early dreams of becoming a professional ice hockey player to rebuilding his path after a career-ending injury, Ramon found a new calling in coffee. What began as childhood fascination with the smell of beans grew into a journey across Colombia's coffee farms and eventually to leading one of Switzerland's most recognized sustainable coffee brands. Ramon shares what drives his work today: building resilient value chains, strengthening the lives of coffee farmers, and exploring innovation from 3D-printed clay cups to global collaborations in sustainable farming. Together, he and Chris explore the meaning of choice in business, in community, and in shaping a livable future. This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the quiet power of daily choices. 🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Espresso Martini (virgin) 🎧 A thought to leave you with: Do you know your coffee (or tea) supply chain?   Episode Resources: Ramon Schalch ViCAFE Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Recorded at the Schweizerhof Hotel Zürich Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    47 min

  8. 11/02/2025

    The Serendipity of Science with Zina Cinker

    🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris The Serendipity of Science with Zina Cinker Episode 6 In this episode, Chris sits down with Dr. Zina Cinker, physicist, global platform creator, and Director General of MATTER. From a childhood shaped by both art and science, to a chance discovery of graphene, to launching PuzzleX and Xpanse as platforms that translate deep science into human stories and explore how Quantum connects to everything, Zina's journey is driven by curiosity, serendipity, and a fearless embrace of the unknown. Her love of Isaac Asimov, the Sufi wisdom passed down through her family, and her refusal to fit into any one box make her path as unconventional as it is inspiring.   What drives Zina is the belief that science is not just discovery, but translation, the ability to bring the awe of new knowledge into forms that move people. Together, we explore the power of serendipity, the role of creativity in science, and why embracing complexity can spark entirely new ways of seeing the future. This is an inspiring conversation about risk, intuition, and the courage to create what doesn't yet exist. 🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Whisky (Laphroaig) + Tea 🎧 A thought to leave you with: How do we harness exponential technologies with enough imagination - and responsibility - to serve humanity?   Episode Resources: Zina Cinker PuzzleX Xpanse MATTER Connect with Choosing to Matter Instagram: @choosingtomatter LinkedIn: @choosingtomatter Explore all our platforms Credits: Host: Chris Luebkeman Executive Producer: Jonelle Simunich Guest Relations: Taline Frantz Editors: Viktoria Bacheva and Asmita Mehta Sound Designer: Taline Frantz Design and Manager: Kinny Tran-Marazza Graphic Designer: Nazaré Sarabúa Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast

    52 min
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About

What does it mean to live with intention in a world that pulls us in every direction? This podcast explores the everyday decisions that shape our futures. Hosted by Chris Luebkeman and brought to you by [Y]our 2040, each episode invites a guest to slow down, share a drink, and reflect on how they navigate complexity, purpose, and change. From creatives to change-makers, these are honest conversations that spark action and remind us we all have the power to choose to matter.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Luebkeman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Choosing to Matter