Navigating New Ventures: My Return to the Digital World

... and why I have chosen Substack as a platform!

Dear Reader,

I’ve been reflecting on my media presence for quite some time. Since joining the Open Society Foundations in early 2016, I stepped back from publishing and moved out of the public eye as a researcher. Now that I’ve transitioned from the foundation, I’m excited to embark on new ventures.

Over the past eight years, the digital landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, requiring me to adapt. During this time, my website remained “under construction” as I shifted focus to social media. However, these platforms have also evolved—often becoming toxic spaces.

Critical Thinking In Times of AI

Today, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new website with a fresh concept designed to engage my audience. Here, you’ll find my expertise in graphic recording and facilitation, consulting, and a commitment to critical thinking and AI & nature-based learning.

This effort is complemented by a Substack channel where I’ll share my journey. If you’d like to stay connected, I invite you to subscribe to my Substack and/or homepage—and feel free to encourage others to do the same!

Why Substack?

In the coming weeks, I’ll publish several articles I’ve been working on over the past months. I hope this new format resonates with my audience. My introduction to Substack came 2023, just before leaving Open Society Foundations. I was particularly inspired by the “Ideas Letter” that Lenny Bernardo started on Substack before it transitioned to its own platform. After a year of following diverse creators on Substack, I’ve become a big fan of its ability to foster critical thinking and meaningful dialogue.

As a next step, I plan to populate my Substack with a range of articles, grow my audience and soon launch a YouTube channel that’s currently in development.

Adressing the “Inner Child”

Allow me to introduce as well Prof. Dr. Älg, a hand puppet with a personality as unique as his story.

His journey began long before he came to life in 2024, rooted in an idea I carried with me for over two decades. It all started in 1998 when I was undergoing rehabilitation at Schloss Hamborn after battling cancer at a young age. There, I met a professional trainer who shared a fascinating discovery: when she worked with senior executives, introducing hand puppets into her sessions unlocked their “inner child.”

These hardened professionals, often difficult to reach, would light up with curiosity and openness the moment the puppets appeared. This profound experience stayed dormant in my mind for 25 years—until it was time for him to be born. In 2023, as I transitioned out of my role as a senior program manager at OSF, I realized it was time to create a puppet that could embody transformative power—a tool to connect with people on a deeper level.

Bringing him to life wasn’t something I could do alone. I turned to Norman Schneider, one of Europe’s most renowned puppet builders, who has an illustrious career crafting puppets for television shows like Sesamestreet and Siebenstein. Together, we designed every aspect of his creation, with me doing all the manual work to make him truly “handmade.”

Transforming Complex Subjects Into Playful, Accessible Experiences

His purpose is to spark creativity, foster openness, and engage people in meaningful dialogue—transforming complex subjects into playful, accessible experiences. He is here to awaken the curious child within every audience, bridging serious intellectual discourse with joy and wonder. If you want to get to know him better, look here!

Stay tuned and check back often to see how things evolve here!