Conversations Matter Molly Birkholm & Hans Hickler

You asked and we listened! In this special episode, Hans holds space for a conversation with Molly, who gives deep insight into her life and career. Molly shares the story of her near-death experience and healing journey, and the tools she discovered along the way that prove it’s possible to experience peace even when life seems to be falling apart. Molly and Hans discuss the ever-evolving nature of the human experience, and Molly gives tips on unlocking creative potential, finding your voice, and challenging the edge of compassion.

In Episode 13, Molly and Hans interview Nikki McKean -- a photographer, restaurant owner, wife, and mother of two young girls who has lived through two cancer diagnoses in two years. In this episode, Nikki describes how she came alive through an experience that may have otherwise left her feeling broken. She shares her journey through recovery, which culminated in her "Let’s Radiate Project" -- the creative endeavor born out of her second cancer diagnosis. This episode dives deep into healing trauma, the art of deep listening, reframing suffering, and practicing how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. 

In episode 12, Hans and Molly interview Hector Marcel -- a true mix of east and west. Hector describes coming from a poor family in Argentina and turning into a successful businessman in Australia -- by age 25. Not only that, Hector is also a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism and has a gift for speaking to western business through the lens of eastern philosophy (which has turned into his career). In this episode, you'll learn how to collectively gain and build trust in an organization, strategies for reframing hardship, the value in helping your competitor be successful, and how to turn danger into opportunity.

In Episode 11, Hans and Molly interview Mike Drescher -- a media entrepreneur turned women's undergarment designer who shares the twists and turns that shaped his life and unconventional career path. An eccentric speaker with a true zest for life, Mike showcases how serendipitous life events combined with tenacity and grit got him where he is today. This episode gives a little bit of everything, from the ethics of cosmetics and curing childhood ailments to live theater projects and our inherent interconnectedness.

In Episode 10, Hans and Molly interview Suketu Mehta -- a famed author and journalist specializing in works on the subject of immigration. In this episode, Suketu discusses his career trajectory and his work, including his awarded book Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found. He then dives into his vast knowledge on immigration, exploring historical examples of problems caused by artificial borders, and describing current events that are likely to cause problematic mass migration in the future. This leads into a conversation about the concept of "othering" -- what it is, why we do it, and how we can stop it.

In Episode 9, Hans and Molly interview Alison Thompson -- a humanitarian volunteer and founder of Third Wave Volunteers, which has over 30,000 volunteers and followers globally. In this episode, Alison walks us through many of her humanitarian undertakings and the process of mobilizing an entire rescue team. She also speaks to the role corporations play in giving back, and how to ensure we're not causing even bigger problems for people during a crisis. Alison describes her work as "love in action," and shares what this work has taught her about what all humans from across the globe have in common.