In this episode Viktoria is joined by Anna, a biologist whose work takes her deep into forests, coastlines, and the raw beauty of the natural world. She returns to the podcast for a more personal conversation. While our last episode explored the science and wonder of working in the wild, this time we turn inward to explore identity, belonging, and transformation.

From immigrating to Canada to building a scientific career in a new country, Anna has navigated profound personal and professional transitions. Together, we explore what it means to leave one home and build another- not just geographically, but internally. We talk about belonging, adaptation, grief for past versions of ourselves, and the tension between staying true to your roots and allowing yourself to evolve. We also dive into the powerful connection between work and identity - especially in a profession that demands resilience, curiosity, and deep presence in nature.

This conversation is about the spaces in between-between countries, between careers, between who we were and who we are becoming. It’s about understanding identity not as a fixed label, but as a living ecosystem that shifts, adapts, and regenerates.

If you’ve ever questioned where you belong, who you are becoming, or how change has reshaped you — this episode is for you.

What does it truly mean to lead - not just with strategy, but with self-awareness, presence, and purpose?

In this episode Viktoria is joined by Samantha Duggal, a yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, meditation guide, Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner, and Creative Movement Therapist from India, whom I first met in Vancouver few years ago.

Samantha has traveled and taught across multiple countries, bringing ancient wellness practices into some of the most unexpected spaces - including corporate boardrooms. In this conversation, we explore how she bridges the gap between ancient traditions and modern work culture, and why holistic well-being is not a luxury for professionals - but a necessity.

We talk about:
• What holistic leadership really means• How breath, movement, and mindset shape the way we lead• Bringing yoga and meditation into high-performance corporate environments• Cultural differences in how the world receives holistic practices• The power of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Creative Movement Therapy• Practical tools busy professionals can implement immediately

Whether you’re listening from your office, your yoga mat, or somewhere in between, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable takeaways.

This is a conversation about integrating ancient wisdom into modern leadership — and remembering that the most powerful leaders are the ones who lead from within.

How to find Samanta :

IG: @samantaduggal

https://samantaduggal.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnA4vxEtGSHctC_n0nvtXVrJGQC2sD5HXPukbOiJfrOmsycBr69XCw2r9sE4k_aem_TAIij7pMHKXC_6tfqUBzyA

In this episode we dive into an honest and grounded conversation about modern masculinity - what it really means to be a man today, beyond roles, expectations, and stereotypes.

My guest, Tom, is a Makeup Effects Artist in the film industry, a breathwork coach, and a personal trainer. Living between creativity, discipline, physicality, and inner work, Tom brings a unique perspective on the quiet pressures men carry, the tension between expectation and authenticity, and the spaces where men feel allowed, and not allowed to be vulnerable.

We talk about emotional expression, strength and softness, masculine presence in modern dating, male friendships, and the often-discussed “taxi theory” - the idea that men commit when they feel ready, rather than when they meet the “right” person. Tom shares his personal reflections on commitment, purpose, timing, and what helps men stay grounded in a world that constantly asks them to hold it together.

This episode is an invitation to listen deeper - for men who want to feel seen, and for women who want to better understand the inner world of men. A conversation about pressure, purpose, presence, and redefining masculinity in a more conscious, human way.

Tom's IG:

@tom_sos

@tomek_masks

In this episode Viktoria is joined by Carrie and Andrew, co-founders of ZENDEN in Vancouver-a space that has quietly become a sanctuary for healing, community, and conscious leadership.

Carrie shares her 10-year journey of sobriety, the moment that changed everything, and how choosing truth over comfort opened the door to intuition, sound healing, and a life devoted to service. We explore how she learned to trust her inner voice, began offering psychic readings, and what it means to hold space with integrity-even when others can’t yet see what’s possible.

Andrew opens up about his own path-from child actor to party-fueled success, and the moment he realized that a life out of alignment, no matter how glamorous, was not sustainable. He reflects on sobriety, losing himself in external validation, and how ZENDEN became an unexpected outlet for reconnection, kindness, and purpose.

Together, they speak about building ZENDEN 2.0-not just as a business, but as a living ecosystem: one that creates meaningful employment, supports practitioner sustainability, and responds to the growing burnout and loneliness of modern city life. We explore what it means to lead with humanity, design impeccable guest experiences, and grow without losing soul.

This conversation is about resonance -the kind that arrives before belief, guides before readiness, and asks us to listen more deeply to who we’re becoming.

IG: @carrieann_bailey

@realandrewfrancis

@zendensanctuary

In this episode Viktoria is joined by Kate Goddard - an incredible fitness instructor based in Vancouver, originally from South Africa. Kate shares her honest experience of immigrating to Canada: the excitement, the loneliness, the grief of leaving home, and the courage it takes to rebuild your life in a new place.

We talk about what it’s really like to start from scratch - finding work, building community, and navigating the emotional ups and downs that often stay unspoken. Kate opens up about why she chose to share her journey online through raw, unedited reels, what vulnerability on social media truly takes, and how speaking your truth can become a powerful form of connection and healing.

This conversation touches on belonging, resilience, authenticity, and the comfort found in movement and community. Whether you’ve immigrated, are thinking about starting over somewhere new, or simply feel “in between” in your life right now - this episode is for you.

A conversation about courage, honesty, and finding home within yourself.

In this episode of Viktoria is joined by Kim, a devoted yoga practitioner, Ashtangi, and a teacher with over 15 years of experience, and a mother of two.

Together we explore the poetry of presence — the quiet, lived beauty that unfolds when we truly pay attention. In this episode Kim reflects on her journey from a chaotic and ungrounded chapter in her twenties to a life rooted in practice, devotion, and conscious motherhood.

We speak about yoga not just as something done on the mat, but as a way of living. We talk about how poetry entered her life and became another form of practice — a language for presence, meaning, and the sacred in the everyday.

We explore how motherhood reshaped her identity, her expectations, her relationship with her body, and her understanding of self-care, softness, and strength.

This conversation is about becoming. About learning to hold many roles without losing yourself. About finding poetry in breath, in movement, in mess, and in moments of deep love.

If you’re navigating change, craving depth, or longing to feel more present in your own life — this episode is an invitation to slow down, listen, and return to yourself.

IG: @poetryofpractice

In this episode, Viktoria is joined by Tanya, the owner of the Pure Barre studios in Vancouver - a teacher, business owner, and mother whose approach to movement is deeply intentional and artful.Together we explore alignment beyond the physical body, talk about teaching as a form of art, the power of presence in the room, and what it truly means to guide people into better connection with their bodies. She shares her journey into teaching, building a heart-centered business, and continuing to lead with care while balancing motherhood and life.

This conversation is about more than fitness — it’s about attention, alignment, and showing up fully even when things are going in unexpected direction.

@purebarrevancouver

@tanyaschneider

What if the way we communicate could change not just our conversations — but our relationships, our emotional health, and the way we connect with ourselves?

In this episode Viktoria is joined by Bea Araujo, a counsellor who shares practical, science-backed insights on communication and emotional intelligence. Together, we explore how to navigate emotionally charged conversations, manage conflict with awareness, and build trust in both personal and professional relationships.

We talk about attachment styles and how they show up in everyday interactions, the role emotional regulation plays in healthy communication, and why small practices like gratitude, journaling, and mindfulness actually work on a neurological level. You’ll also hear simple micro-practices you can start using right away to increase emotional resilience and clarity.

This episode is for anyone who wants to communicate with more intention, relate with more empathy, and feel more grounded — even when emotions run high.

How to find Bea: ⁠Bia Araujo⁠

IG: @biaaraujoh