Grit & Wonder

Es gibt so Menschen mit denen beginnt und endet ein jedes Gespräch immer mittendrin - wie ein Sprung in einen nicht versiegen wollenden Fluss an Gedanken, Erkenntnissen und Inspirationen.Genau so geht es mir mit Nicola!Und diesmal haben wir finally aufgenommen! Voilá.
Es hätte dafür auch keinen besseren Zeitpunkt gegeben können. Nicola hat zusammen mit Jakob Carl Sauer den Dokumentarfilm „to Close Your Eyes and See Fire“, der die unterschiedlichsten Realitäten von Menschen NACH der katastrophalen Explosion im Beiruter Hafen erzählt, Ende 2025 in die Kinos gebracht.
Ein Jahr später tut sich nun wieder diese besondere Raum auf - wohin als Nächstes? Warum und vor allem Wie? Und genau dieses wundervoll ungemütliche Dazwischen, in dem wir Schaffenden uns ständig freiwillig wie unfreiwillig wiederfinden, beleuchten wir von den unterschiedlichsten Seiten.
Wir sprechen darüber wie am Anfang, wenn man sich ins künstlerische Schaffen stürzt, scheinbar immer diese intensive Lieben steht. Dieses Nicht-genug-bekommen-können.Über die Kräfte, die einem am Anfang einer kreativen Laufbahn tragen - yes, auch Naivität und es sich selbst und allen anderen beweisen wollen, gehören dazu.Und über die Frage von welchem Ort man Motivation & Schaffenslust ziehen kann, wenn Sturm und Drang vorbei sind? Geht Film überhaupt nachhaltig? Nicht zu letzt auch als Frau?
Nicola verrät uns außerdem, warum Filme machen grandios ist für Leute, die sich A) nicht für eine Kunstrichtung entscheiden wollen und B) gerne die Kontrolle über jedes kleine Detail haben :DIn dieser Episode wird klar, wie köstlich emotionale Katharsis im Kinosessel sein kann und dass es wohl keine anderes Medium gibt, in dem man dem Reinschlüpfen in Körper, Leben, Perspektiven anderer Menschen näher kommt.
Delight yourself.
Follow Nicolas Work on IG: @nicolavonleffernHIER kann man "To Close Your Eyes and See Fire" streamen.

Believing in one’s own work is like paying rent.Only if you hold space for it, do you give it a chance to grow. Only if you think it’s worthwhile to invest in it, you will.
In this episode, I zoom in on HOW to actually practice this powerful skill on purpose.
I talk about how believing in your work looks and feels differently depending on where you are in the creative process.I dive into doubling down on what sparks your interest, love, and joy while making. Into how creating requires a rare mix of bravery, naivety, and willingness to dive in, get messy, and take risks.I also discuss how receiving NOs, rejections, or misunderstandings in response to your work can be crushing, no matter how long you’ve been in the game, and that it’s not something to brush over lightly.And I make a plea for finding your tribe / community (hate that word though! It hardly means anything anymore) – people you share a mission and purpose with, which is more than a bunch of friends.
I also share a lot of stories that have carried me through, stories that help me make sense of it all.I hope this episode can do the same for you <3

Ein offen freudiger Blick unter die Oberfläche und ins Herz der Schaffenswelt der Wiener Modedesignerin Jana Wieland mit eigener, gleichnamiger Brand; Sprach-Schmankerl inklusive: Interview in oberösterreichischem Dialekt. You are welcome :D
Mindestens so wichtig aber - das Gespräch ist ein schlüssellochgroßes Guckloch in 20 Jahre tiefe Freundschaft, die uns seit zart-ungestümen Teenage Jahren verbindet.Und eine großartige Gelegenheit von der Alltagsnähe auszuzoomen und die großen Fragen mal wieder zu stellen:Warum Mode? Was treibt dich an?Was inspiriert dich?Was bedeutet Erfolg für dich?Was macht dir Angst und wie gehst du damit um?Jana spricht vom guten Leben, von Kleidungsstücken als Gefühls-Formen, die man sich überstülpen kann. Von intrinsischer Schönheit, die nicht performen muss und dem Algorithmus nicht gefällt und von der Form von Erfolg, die sie nährt.Tune in and feel the warmth.Wie ihr Janas Arbeit findet:Jana auf IG: @jana_wielandJanas Shop in Wien: Zollergasse 25 / 1070 Wien Jana Wieland Online Shop
 

EMBODIMENT.It’s one of those big, ominous terms that’s being thrown around a lot these days—creating just as much confusion about what the heck it actually is, and discomfort about what it might mean to practice it. Good News: we all got a body - so getting started is as simple (and equally complex :)) as sitting, walking, talking, breathing. And I will walk, talk, breath you through it!Here’s what we’ll cover in this episode:

Why embodiment actually matters. It’s not a trend—it’s about accessing the deep wisdom your body already holds, so you can make aligned choices and live in a way that feels true to you.

How your body acts like a live feedback system, helping you track where you’re at—so you can make decisions that are rooted in your actual experience, not just your thoughts.

Concrete, non-cringey ways to start connecting with your body (no dance degree or spandex required)

Simple, practical exercises to access your own inner compass—so you can move forward with integrity and self-trust.This is about becoming the expert of your own life.
And your body? It’s ready to help.
I also mention two of my biggest teachers in this episode:🌀 Melissa Tiers – Your go-to for anything hypnotherapy. She’s an absolute institution.❤️ David Bedrick – His method of “UnShaming” is one of the most radically loving therapeutic approaches I know. His work is deeply healing and profoundly human.

In dieser Folge bin ich On the Mics mit der fabelhaften Anna Riess: einer Wiener Künstlerin, die Kunst, Handwerk und Design auf einzigartige Weise verbindet. Ihre Arbeiten aus Keramik, Textil und Metall sind nicht nur Objekte – sie erzählen Geschichten.
Wir sprechen über:

Wie Architektur, Poesie und Mutterschaft Annas künstlerische Stimme prägen

Die Spannung zwischen Funktionalität und Kunst – kann ein Objekt beides erfüllen?
Wie schöpferische Tätigkeit eine Form des Sense-Making und sich Verortens in der Welt sein kann
Selbstständigkeit, kreative Routinen und das „Lustprinzip“ (aka: Schaffen, was dich wirklich begeistert)

Wie man mit Kritik umgeht und seiner Intuition vertraut

Mehr zu Anna:
→ Website: www.annariess.com
→ Instagram: @riessannariess → Clayground Retreat

You’re creating, you’re sharing, you’re putting yourself out there—so why does it sometimes feel like the attention you get just bounces off? Why do we crave being seen but struggle to feel it when it actually happens?
This episode is NOT about how to be seen (spoiler: you’re already doing that). It’s about the deeper, trickier part—letting it in.
🌀 Do you allow the love and recognition you receive to really sink in?⚡ What happens when people react to your work? (For REAL, though.)🪞 Are you too busy shaping your impact to actually experience it?🌊 What if being seen isn’t just about you—but about the ripples you create?
I’m diving into all the messy, human emotions that come with being witnessed, and sharing what I’m learning (in real-time) about receiving, listening, and trusting the power we already have.If you want to get in touch: mirjam@soegner.com

Welcome to the Grit & Wonder Podcast, where we explore the alchemy of creation. Whether you’re an artist or working in the corporate world, we all share the same desire: to create something meaningful, impactful, touching. Something that reminds us of our humanity.  Hosted by artist and business consultant Mirjam Sögner, this show delves into the magic that happens when spark and vision are paired with discipline and strucutre.In each episode, we dive into ways of how to master the powerful balance between grit— the resilience to follow through —and wonder—the spark of creativity and intuition that breath life into any project. Through intimate conversations with leaders, artists, and innovators from both creative and corporate worlds, we uncover the mindset, strategies, and personal journeys behind making something truly extraordinary come to life.

For all of us it is a different one.
That most feared, unwanted, gut-wrenching emotion. 
To be clear - there is a huge variety of feelings that no one would consider pleasurable. And most of us would rather not feel any of them.
 I even like to think that its a 50/50 cake: and half of our human experience is constituted by countless shades of "uncomfortable".
 
But there is this ONE feeling that you try to avoid at ALL COST! 
Most of the time we are not even aware of our utter disgust of that particular emotion coz our unconscious mind makes a huge effort to push its mere existence to the edge of perceptibility!That could be anything from boredom, to loneliness, to anger or anxiety…
For me it is disappointment actually. 
And in this weeks episode I will let you in on all the tricky methods our brains apply so we never EVER have to it! 
And that is exactly how our most unwanted feeling is in fact, indirectly running the show. 

For any inquires to coach with Mirjam, questions and comments reach out to: mirjam@soegner.com Find me on instagram @school_of_impact Or book a consult HERE. 


I am sure you have also already hit your head at one of the million metaphorical, flashing billboards that yell at you how important it is to carve out YOUR space, corner or niche as an entrepreneur or freelancer. Endless claims are made about what is the best way to set yourself apart from the masses. In this weeks episode I wanna real-talk to you though about how leaning into your uniqueness (which you already effortlessly possess) is the very thing your reptile brain is trying to avoid at all costs. For the simple reason that standing even for good, equals separation from the tribe, which goes completely against our survival instincts! So, ja. No matter how yummy doing your thing can potentially be…it’s very likely gonna feel awful too. 
Now - one could say that I am one of those billboard yelling people myself since all I am doing is supporting people become MORE of their bizarre, wonderful, quirky, magical self. No worries - I have not changed sides. (Although I hope I am not yelling :D)I just wanna bring attention to the fact that ticking that Unique Selling Point box will bring up TENSION and tons of cognitive dissonance.And that is ok… but after listening to this episode I just don’t want you to think that something is wrong with you for not being absolutely delighted about walking a walk that seems to be different from everybody else’s. 
I will also point out particular ways in which that tension might show up, so you can spot it and apply the tools I will teach you to work your way THROUGH the discomfort! Because you can’t shame yourself into free expression! So let’s be unique anyways. 
For any inquires to coach with Mirjam, questions and comments reach out to: mirjam@soegner.com Find me on instagram @school_of_impact Or book a consult HERE.

Whenever you got a lot on your plate - a very normal reaction would be to increase SPEED when trying to shove the stuff off your table. I mean - you are stressed because there are too many things, right?So, it’s just basic math that DOING MORE will get you faster to the end of that seemingly unsurmountable list. Which would finally cause that much needed relief to kick in.
And - YES. If you were a machine without a nervous system, instincts and deeply wired survival mechanisms: basic math would totally do it.Luckily there is so much more yummy complexity and meandering story-telling involved when it comes to the human condition and the fabulous ways how our mind and body work together.
In this week´s episode I will talk about the nervous system and in particular the state of fight or flight to explain why DOING more to escape a perceived emotional threat will usually just produce MORE of the shit you already got and not actually get you an inch closer to the sweet spot on the other side you so frantically try to get to.
We will dive deep into how our feelings are the embodiment of the stories we weave and the thoughts we have about what’s going on and how we can use actively and purposefully BEING what we want to achieve in order to move the needle instead of trying to ACT our way out of the unwanted state.Coz you can’t outrun them feelings - you heard that right.
If this sounds abstract - it’s really not.Listen on. It’s not rocket science - rather a love declaration to process, to physical sensations, to feeling safe around one another and in one’s own body.
If you want to go deeper into Polyvagal-Theory - these are your people:Deb Dana: www.rhythmofregulation.com  
Stephen Porges: www.stephenporges.com
For any inquires to coach with Mirjam, questions and comments reach out to: mirjam@soegner.com
Find me on instagram @school_of_impact
Or book a consult HERE.