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The New World of Green Cuisine with Chef Frank Fol
Renowned vegetable Chef Frank Fol travels the world in search of the crème-de-la-crème of green cuisine: a new world where fruits, vegetables and colour take centre stage over meat and fish. Can we change our perspectives on food? Chef Fol says it's already happening, from the best restaurants in the world to our own kitchens.
8 min read


The Long Journey Home: Another No -fly Journey for Dr. Grimalda
Social scientist Dr. Gianluca Grimalda, known for 'refusing' to fly, is on another no-fly journey home after 10 months of climate research in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. On September 29, 2026, he began his 23,000 km trip across 15 countries from the Pacific to Europe, providing once again a unique, first-hand perspective on slow travel and climate change.
4 min read


Rethinking Work Stability: the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Many of us view working for a company as the safe choice due to benefits and security. However, self-reliance and an entrepreneurial spirit offer their own stability and advantages. Mary Contrary delves into an emerging, more nuanced perspective on work.
4 min read


Keeping Cool Without AC: A Shift in Perspective?
Globally, air conditioning has become essential during hot summers. But ironically, experts say it exacerbates the extreme temperatures so we end up needing it even more. Luckily, fresh and creative cooling ideas are popping up that mix old-school tricks with futuristic tech and take cues from nature. Let's dive into these new approaches.
6 min read


Dream Life Road Movie (Part 3)
'Downshifting'— the perspective on a simpler, more meaningful life often involves moving to sun-drenched locations— but in Part 3 of our New Life Road Movie, we follow our Dutch protagonists who question: can we create that dream life without relocating and leaving everything behind?
1 min read


India: When Travel was Still a Voyage
We’re revisiting the unpredictable, sensory travel of the 1980s. In Part 1, we follow Harry van Iperen’s Far East notebook as he and his wife Ursula explore packed markets, 'Superdeluxe' buses, roadside banana leaf meals, and awe-inspiring temples. This isn't nostalgia for its own sake, but a reminder of how slow, attentive travel reshapes our worldview.
13 min read


A Dog is our Best Friend. But are they Happy?
In the West, we all care for our dogs pretty much the same way. We use crates, treats, and dominance to correct or punish. But how close are these methods to what a dog naturally needs? Do they create a healthy environment and a mutually beneficial, stress-free relationship? Welfare expert Judith Versluis believes there's room for improvement.
11 min read


Beautiful Nature: Can We Connect with Something we Idealise?
We humans just love admiring beautiful nature, don't we? But when we admire nature only from a distance — on a big screen, in a curated documentary, or as an Instagram-perfect shot — do we risk turning it into a celebrity, something to idolise rather than to enter fully? Mary Contrary dives into how we relate to something that's been here forever.
2 min read


GirlSkate Nairobi: We All Have Inner Strength
A unique project in Nairobi is turning skateboards into tools of confidence, creativity, and community. Led by Jelimo Cheboi and Antoinette 'Tonyii' Apondi, GirlSkate Nairobi shows that everyone can have inner strength and self-confidence, but sometimes, it just needs the right place to help ignite it.
4 min read


Death and Afterlife: So Many Perspectives And Only One "Truth"
It's pretty amazing how different cultures and times have their own ideas about what happens after we die, right? What's even more interesting is that each group considers their version 'the truth,' especially considering none of us can know for sure what comes next. Today, let's dive into some major cultural takes on death and the afterlife, so we can all expand our horizons together.
5 min read


'Best Family Dog' Breed: An Old Assumption?
Think Golden Retrievers are the best family dog breed and Bulldogs are not? Well, think again! New research and voices across media are turning that old idea on its head with a fresh perspective. It shows that a dog's temperament is more influenced by its environment, owner expectations and care, than by its breed.
2 min read


Sleeping In: Debunking the Lazy Myth with Danish Insights from the B-Society
Sleeping in is often seen as being lazy, while getting up early is tied to success and prestige. But as we start to understand that everyone has their own peak energy times, with some people being more productive later in the day, this view is shifting. A Danish point of view suggests that tweaking our schedules to allow for different start times could actually be a good thing. We speak with Camilla Kring from the B-Society.
7 min read


Synchronicity: Are You Team 'Coincidence' or 'It's a Sign'?
When it comes to something like synchronicity, we're either all in or a bit skeptical. But right between believing and scientific thinking, there's a whole world of possibilities. Want to explore it together? Four experts on synchronicity and coincidence are here to inspire us.
8 min read


Being Single: Lonely Interlude, or New Life Story?
Music, movies, and conversations often suggest that having a life partner is better than being single, with science supporting the health and other benefits. However, is being single just about waiting for the right person, or can it be a fulfilling, lasting lifestyle choice? Is it time for a new narrative?
7 min read


Staying-Fit Tips? To Walk like the Ministry of Silly Walks. Obviously.
Walking helps us stay fit, but some innovative researchers found that walking in a silly manner, like John Cleese in Monty Python's 'Ministry of Silly Walks,' to be precise, burns more energy and boosts mood effectively. It can make you wonder: do our everyday activities have to be the same every day?
2 min read


Happiness is Being A Tiny Grass Blade (in Case You Didn't Know).
Have you ever considered how the world looks from a blade of grass's perspective? These tiny blades have a surprisingly positive outlook on life. Uncover a hidden perspective in our lawns and meadows: the secret to happiness according to a tiny blade of grass.
2 min read


How Work is Changing: Time's Up for the Rat Race?
If there's one thing we've picked up in recent times, it's that we can successfully rethink big, long-standing beliefs and perspectives. Take work. The meaning of work, the daily grind, the rat race, 'the more we work the more successful we are,' the 5-day week in the workplace? All of that's definitely evolving and work is changing.
6 min read


Silent News: Why News Background and Alternative Perspectives Matter
In a world overflowing with information, the news can overwhelm us. Columnist Mary Contrary tells us how exploring different news perspectives, backgrounds, and underreported voices, can offer us nuanced insights and context and a clearer picture. It can provide a deeper understanding of our complex world, beyond prevailing beliefs. Let's delve into the quiet news — the news we might otherwise miss.
4 min read


Dr. Kim D’Eramo on the Power of Surrender and Innate Healing.
Have you ever considered that true healing might sometimes come from within, rather than a battle fought externally? Join us in exploring the profound insights shared by Dr. Kim D’Eramo on why it sometimes pays to surrender to our innate healing.
5 min read


About Rosie: Aging Gracefully (-ish) and the Magical Garden Shed.
There are people who age, there are people who age positively, and then there are people who have their own unique way of aging gracefully. Mary Contrary met such a person—her remarkable neighbor Rosie, an 'old' lady who saw right through you—yes, you, with all your stereotypes about life and the elderly! This is the story of Rosie, based on a real-life event.
8 min read
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