Explore every episode of the podcast Choosing to Matter
Dive into the complete episode list for Choosing to Matter. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
Rows per page:
50
1–11 of 11
Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Shaping Philanthropy's Next Chapter with Sarah Howard
17 Dec 2025
00:43:56
🎙️ 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?
Physics, Serendipity, and the Future of Journalism with Felix Graf
03 Dec 2025
00:44:04
🎙️ 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?
Recorded at Schweizerhof Hotel Zürich Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast
Welcome to Choosing to Matter
29 Oct 2025
00:01:57
What shapes a life? Sometimes it is the bold decisions. More often, it is the quiet ones, the everyday choices that open doors, shift directions, or help us become who we are meant to be.
Choosing to Matter digs into those moments: both the seen and unseen decisions that shape someone's life, work, and way of being in the world.
Hosted by Chris Luebkeman and brought to you by @Your2040, each episode is an open, unscripted conversation with someone living with intention.
No scripts. Just real people reflecting on how they navigate complexity, change, and purpose—one choice at a time.
Narratives that Move the World with Ana Rold
19 Nov 2025
00:42:08
🎙️ 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?
Coffee, Resilience, and Supply Chains with Ramon Schalch
05 Nov 2025
00:47:13
🎙️ 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)
🎙️ 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?
🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Nature, Cities, and Endurance with Russell Galt Episode 5
In this episode, Chris sits down with Russell Galt, ecologist, strategist, and lifelong advocate for the natural world.
From growing up in the Scottish Highlands to tracking hyenas in South Africa, cycling across Continents, and now working at the intersection of conservation, cities, and carbon markets, Russell's journey is one of curiosity, courage, and commitment. Along the way, his love for whisky and bagpipes, and his stories of wilderness encounters, bring a deeply personal dimension to his path.
What drives Russell's work is a conviction that nothing is too broken to be repaired. Not bicycles, not communities, not even our relationship with nature.
Together, we explore the lessons of resilience, the urgent need to reimagine cities as ecosystems, and the power of individual choices to ripple outward. This is a hopeful conversation about endurance, generosity, and building futures where people and nature thrive together.
🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Whisky [Talisker]
🎧 A thought to leave you with:
What if every city was designed as an ecosystem: resilient, alive, and deeply connected to nature?
Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast Subscribe & Listen: Wherever you get your podcasts.
Climate Extremes and Urgent Choices with Sonia Seneviratne
30 Oct 2025
00:52:14
Climate Extremes and Urgent Choices with Sonia Seneviratne Episode 4
In this episode, Chris sits down with Sonia Seneviratne, climate scientist, professor at ETH Zurich, and a leading voice in climate extremes. From her early fascination with astrophysics and childhood astronomy books to pivotal moments in the Amazon rainforest and now shaping global climate assessments, Sonia's journey is one of curiosity turned into environmental responsibility.
What drives Sonia's work is a deep commitment to fact-checking reality and speaking truth at the intersection of science and society. Together, we explore her path from physics and biology to environmental science, her role as a coordinating lead author and bureau member of the IPCC - and Vice Chair of the IPCC's Working Group I - she sees herself as both a teacher and a "climate doctor." This is a powerful and inspiring conversation about truth, responsibility, and the urgent choices before us.
🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Black Tea
📍 The ingredients: 00:30 Tea, roots, and Sri Lankan connections 03:00 A Voyager and the dream of astrophysics 04:00 Shifting from the stars to our planet's emergency 06:00 Biology, physics, and finding a path toward environmental science 09:00 Rainforests, shamans, and seeing the atmosphere is alive 12:00 A family of musicians and entrepreneurs 19:00 Droughts, vegetation, and the hidden role of water in CO₂ cycles 22:00 The 1.5°C report and why every fraction of a degree matters 26:00 Wearing many hats: scientist, teacher, translator, advocate 29:00 Inspired by truth-tellers and exposing propaganda 34:00 Understanding extreme events through physics and statistics 37:00 Redefining "normal": when extremes become the baseline 39:00 The limits of adaptation and why mitigation is essential 41:00 Family, weekends, and finding joy outside the climate crisis 45:00 Net zero as a journey; one step at a time 47:00 Healthy diets, lifestyle shifts, and climate as a mutual benefit 49:00 Choosing to matter: the first step is personal 50:00 Looking back from the future: decisions you'll be proud of 51:00 Closing reflections and gratitude
🎧 A thought to leave you with:
What happens when science is the clearest voice in the room?
From Snowy Slopes to Climate Science with Reto Knutti
30 Oct 2025
00:54:05
🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris
From Snowy Slopes to Climate Science with Reto Knutti
Episode 3
In this episode, Chris sits down with Dr. Reto Knutti, climate scientist, professor at ETH Zurich, and a trusted voice on climate science in Switzerland. Here we explore Reto's personal journey from a ski village in the Bernese Alps to becoming a leading figure in global climate modeling and science communication.
Through stories of mountaineering, margaritas in Colorado, and early inspirations in physics, Reto shares what drives his work: not just understanding climate change, but helping society make meaningful, informed decisions. Together, we discuss the complexity of climate modeling, the tensions between science and advocacy, and what it means to "choose to matter" in a world that urgently needs collective action.
This is a deeply thoughtful and hopeful conversation about science, trust, and finding clarity in a time of global uncertainty.
🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Margarita
📍 The ingredients: 00:30 Welcome and favorite drink 00:59 Memories of Colorado and cultural connection 02:11 Growing up in the Swiss Alps 03:16 Early academic interests and discovering physics 04:43 Entry into climate science and working with Thomas Stocker 11:58 Modeling climate change: from box models to complex systems 15:10 What we've learned—and still don't know—about climate impacts 22:56 Science, politics, and the limits of advocacy 25:45 The fine line between scientific facts and opinion 28:00 The challenge of communicating complexity in a simplified world 29:35 What inspires hope, and what does not in today's climate landscape 33:26 The role of individual vs. political action in driving change 36:16 Why net zero demands more than technology 39:20 We can't afford to stay in the sleeping bag: on taking action 43:04 What it means to matter as a scientist in society 50:58 Reflections on choosing to make a difference
🎧 A thought to leave you with: What role will trust in science play as we experience a warming world?
Workforce Innovation and Equity with Cynthia Hansen
30 Oct 2025
00:43:47
🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris
Workforce Innovation and Equity with Cynthia Hansen
Episode 2
In this episode, Chris sits down with Cynthia Hansen - Managing Director of the Innovation Foundation empowered by the Adecco Group, and a change-maker in global workforce inclusion. Together, they explore Cynthia's journey from her first job at a veterinary office to teaching in Japan, leading initiatives at the World Economic Forum, and now steering a foundation that pushes the boundaries of corporate philanthropy.
Along the way, Cynthia shares how her personal story - from growing up in a multicultural family on the U.S.A. West Coast to raising trilingual children in Switzerland has shaped her vision for a more inclusive and opportunity-rich future. She reflects on the art of balancing professional ambition with personal fulfillment, the power of small actions, and why embracing both grit and humanity is essential for leadership.
This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about purpose, agency, and crafting a legacy that truly matters in a complex, interconnected world.
📍 The ingredients: 00:30 Welcome and favorite drink 02:23 Early career beginnings: veterinary office to convalescent hospital 06:16 Leading the Innovation Foundation and redefining corporate philanthropy 10:58 Family transitions, trilingual kids, and life in Switzerland 12:24 Career pivots: from aspiring vet to professor to global leader 16:19 International experiences and lessons from Japan 18:12 Designing with, not for communities 22:02 Conversations with her kids on stereotypes and identity 22:56 Hopes for future generations and climate-conscious living 23:45 Making high-stakes choices as a CEO 26:27 What inspires change and what keeps her going 27:30 Books that leave a mark: from India to leprosy to social change 30:22 Technology, AI, and the "serendipity engine" 34:30 Looking ahead to 2050: challenges, hope, and self-correcting systems 37:04 Balancing life, leadership, and letting go of what doesn't matter 41:58 Lessons learned and staying true to a personal North Star
🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Cosmopolitan
🎧 A thought to leave you with: How do we create systems that unlock human agency?
Recorded with our partners at the Schweizerhof Hotel Zürich
Presented by: [Y]our 2040 Website: your2040.com/podcast Subscribe & Listen: Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ocean Swells and Systems Thinking with George Orbelian
29 Oct 2025
00:50:13
🎙️ Choosing to Matter: Cocktails with Chris Ocean Swells and Systems Thinking with George Orbelian
Episode 1
In this episode, Chris sits down with George Orbelian - surfer, innovator, and philosopher inspired by nature and Buckminster Fuller's principle of doing more with less. They dive deep into George's journey from catching ocean waves to becoming a systems thinker who embraces complexity, adaptability, and interconnection to drive purposeful change.
Through rich stories of surfing, natural cycles, and sparks of creative insight, George reveals what fuels his work: not only mastering the physical wave but also helping society reconnect with the wisdom embedded in nature to cultivate resilience and innovation. Together, they explore the power of flow, the intricate intelligence of natural systems, and what it truly means to "choose to matter" by navigating life's challenges with curiosity and intention.
This episode is a guide to living with greater intention and less friction. From the surf to natures intelligence, this episode will inspire you to embrace complexity and find harmony in chaos.
📍 The ingredients 00:30 Welcome and favorite drink 01:50 Spring water and indigenous wisdom 05:30 Joining the Buckminster Fuller Institute 09:20 Curiosity, speed, and the thrill of learning 12:30 Early encounters with nature and surfing 15:10 Real estate, responsibility, and treating tenants like family 17:00 Wrestling with purpose and finding alignment 21:00 Raising children, growth spurts, and the elegance of human development 23:30 Letting go, trusting the universe, and finding community at Point Bonita 28:30 Buckminster Fuller's design science and anticipatory systems thinking 30:30 Precision, measurement, and what we fail to apply to the environment 33:00 The power of integrity and the role of the individual 35:30 Making the invisible visible and respecting children's innate genius 42:00 Exemplars of change: Tom Chi - At One Ventures 44:00 Respecting nature and women, imagination, and freedom of thought 45:30 The pattern integrity of the Earth 46:30 Flow, surfing, and being in the tube 49:00 Closing reflections on biodiversity, consciousness, and cherishing life
🍸 Cocktail of the episode: Spring water
🎧 A thought to leave you with: What can the rhythm of nature's systems teach us about navigating complexity with grace?