Learning from Trees
You're allowed not to listen. In fact, if you're arriving here in chase of solutions, you probably shouldn't...
Learning from Trees is a podcast hosted by Shani Persson — for anyone who wants to expand, to learn, and to be more of themselves. Or simply to be, more.
For the human who wants to stop chasing knowledge and start anchoring into inner knowing and wisdom, beyond the letter. Who wants to feel. To experience. To embrace embodiment as a pathway to expansion.
For the soul who wants to co-create and grow through interacting with life — with nature, with themselves, with one another.
For the creator who wants to honour their creative process — making things through the friction and doubts and peaks of being human. The artist who wants to dance with change, tap into their creative power, and be of service.
This is for anyone who wants to savour their humanity. And maybe also — their divinity.
Listen on:
Episodes
21 minutes ago
21 minutes ago
This episode is an invitation to explore what it truly means to be in a committed relationship — not with another person, but with yourself.
I am joined by Caroline Oskarsson - a brand creative and practitioner for holistic wellbeing - together we move through the landscapes of self-touch, body wisdom, and the courage it takes to stop bypassing your own physical experience. We explore what it looks like to turn toward the body rather than away from it — and why learning to touch yourself with care and curiosity may be one of the most quietly radical acts of healing available to us. And perhaps the most overlooked.
Through sharing personal reflection and lived experiences, we venture into how the relationship we cultivate with our own bodies — through massage, self-massage, breathwork, and play — can give us access to both more softness and more aliveness in the face of life's harder seasons.
It's an exploration for anyone drawn to the deeper currents of somatic healing and embodied self-development — and for those who are ready to move from self-love as a concept to self-acceptance as a lived, felt experience in the body.
About Caroline:
Caroline Oscarsson is a manifesting generator in essence and creative witch who merges the worlds of holistic wellbeing and supportive sessions (that includes heart and body work) with supporting brands in building a stronger relationship to their audience by way of storytelling and creative expression.
Get in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholistically/
Email directly: hello@wholistically.se
This episode in headlines:
Rethinking Self-Love: From Idea to Relationship
The Body as Bridge: Including Physical Sensation in Healing
A Simple Self-Touch Practice to Start
Dreaming After Divorce: Reclaiming Joy and Play
Play as a Life Practice — Not a Reward
Reclaiming the Inner Rascal
Why Joy Needs Community
Touch, Massage, and the Nervous System
The Roots of Self-Massage: Ayurveda and Mayan Abdominal Therapy
Face, Belly, and What the Body Is Telling You
Breathwork, Release, and Choosing Kindness
The Off-Brand Seasons — When You Don't Feel Like Yourself
Curiosity Over Judgment: An Invitation to Meet Yourself Differently
From Self-Touch to Self-Acceptance: The Full Circle
Sunday Apr 26, 2026
Sunday Apr 26, 2026
This episode is an invitation to explore what it truly means to lead — not from the outside in, but from the inside out.
Together with JJ Vega, leadership coach and facilitator, we move through the landscapes of inner healing, conscious leadership, and the quiet revolution of taking responsibility for your own experience. We explore what it looks like to stop trying to fix the world around you — and instead turn toward what is alive and true within you. And why that shift may be one of the most quietly radical things a leader, or a human, can do.
Through personal reflection and hard-won insight, we venture into how the relationship we cultivate with our own pain, doubt, and ego can give us access to both more depth and more integrity in how we show up — for ourselves, for the people we lead, and for the structures we are part of.
It's an exploration for anyone drawn to the deeper currents of self-development and embodied healing — and for those who sense that real change in organizations and the structures we are part of begins not with better systems, but with humans who are able to lead themselves in new ways.
About JJ:
JJ Vega is a leadership coach, facilitator, and founder of Art of Unfolding, an organizational development firm for mission-focused technology companies. With over 20 years in leadership roles in diverse fields from software startups to the military, JJ's coaching practice focuses on leaders navigating significant life transitions: career pivots, relationship changes, identity shifts, and the quiet unraveling that often follows periods of high achievement.
His approach to coaching integrates developmental psychology, Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic awareness, and presence-based methodology from his training in the Aletheia Advanced Coaching Program. Rather than treating clients as problems to be solved, JJ operates from the premise that people are already whole—and that transformation happens through revealing what's been blocked, not adding what's missing.
Beyond his coaching practice, JJ is active in the self-organization and regenerative business communities, including cocreation.loft, a Berlin-based collective exploring new ways of working and belonging together. He's particularly interested in how organizations can move beyond command-and-control structures toward emergent, trust-based collaboration—and the inner development leaders need to steward that transition.
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, JJ relocated to Berlin, Germany in pursuit of a different rhythm of life. When he's not coaching, he's likely exploring the city's music and creative scenes, practicing yoga, or engaging in the kind of deep conversations that make life feel meaningful.
Get in touch:
Art of Unfolding Website: artofunfolding.org
Cocreation.loft Website: https://www.cocreationloft.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jj-vega/
This episode in headlines:
Arriving and meeting ourselves
Embracing joy and fun — beyond the pursuit of positivity
Practicing inquiry — the art of listening inward
Turning toward pain - what does it mean?
Beyond optimization — choosing attunement
Exploring mastery as commitment, not arrival
How healing and work intertwine
Inside-out leadership — taking responsibility for inner experience
The challenges of being humans and leaders at work
Ownership versus stewardship — reframing what we hold
Ego, relevance, and why we need both
Final thoughts and invitations
Sunday Apr 12, 2026
Sunday Apr 12, 2026
This episode is an invitation to explore what it truly means to connect — with ourselves, with the people we love, and with something larger than our own lives.
I am joined by Carina Modéus, and together we move through the landscapes of presence, service, and the beauty and weight of being human together. We explore what it looks like to show up fully to life and relationships — and why the quality of our presence may be one of the most quietly radical things we can offer in a fragmented world. And perhaps the most necessary.
Through our own experiences and reflections, we venture into how the relationship we cultivate — with our senses, with other humans, with our faith(s) — can give us access to both more grace and more grit in the face of life’s challenges.
It's an exploration for anyone drawn to the deeper currents of human connection — and for those who find their sense of purpose in being there for and with others, without neglecting themselves.
About Carina:
Daughter of farmers in the deep forests of Småland, in the south of Sweden. She grew up in a big family - three siblings and 75 cousins. Moved to Lund. Met and fell in love with a tenor and theologist, married him and now had the grace of sharing 35 years together (and counting).
Mother of three grown up children. While also taking a winding way through professional life - always mirroring grace and grit: Biologist, physician, both oncologist and psychiatric, the last ten years working mainly in palliative care. Deeply committed to the exploration of existential perspectives and questions, and their impact on our well-being.
Get in touch:
Carina says: “In person actually. I am striving to be as analog as reasonably possible. Meeting physical human beings in physical rooms is more and more my preferred way of living. I have an account on LinkedIn, but I am not at all good at keeping it updated, so I do not dare to promise anyone to be answered there but it is the best channel I have”.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carinamodeus
This episode in headlines:
Morning rituals - a foundation for presence
What true presence means and how we cultivate it
Analog and digital - the push and pull of human connection
The Power of Human Connection
The courage to reach out and face rejection
Caring for others without losing yourself
Intention and Small Steps as a guiding light
Letting grace and grit guide you
Finding Comfort in Imperfection
Reflections on Life, Death, and Connectedness
Final Thoughts and Invitations
Sunday Mar 29, 2026
Sunday Mar 29, 2026
This episode is an invitation to play with our uniqueness - and the imprints that life has left on our brains. An honest conversation about how we can approach our self-discovery and growth with curiosity instead of judgement.
I am joined by Maria Sundell, physician and specialist in neurology. Together we venture into the brain - how it develops and shapes our perspectives and the ways in which we can reframe our experiences for better self-understanding, compassion and - if we want it - growth. And we talk about how a playful mind can enhance our ability to adapt and learn.
Through our own rabbit-holes and experiences we explore what it can look like to approach our evolution with kindness. Each offering our lenses to what it means to make sure we have the resources and support we need to actually be able to evolve.
It’s an exploration for anyone wanting to release the pressures of societal expectations and find their unique paths to self-discovery and fulfilment.
About Maria:
Maria is a specialist in neurology, research physician, podcast host and professional speaker. She has a deep interest in the neuroscience behind personal and professional development and loves educating others on this topic.
Get in touch:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maria-sundell-05b56a57Website: https://brainobservations.com/
This episode in headlines:
Connecting to the moment
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Understanding Brain Filters
Self-help and privilege
Peeling onions - welcoming our growth layer by layer
Brain Differences: Nature vs. Nurture
Childhood Choices and Adult Patterns
The Role of Play in Adult Life
Exploring Playfulness and Creativity
The Power of Compassion and Kindness
Embracing Change and Individuality
Final Thoughts: Compassionate Playfulness
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
This episode is an invitation to self-compassion. An intimate dialogue on what it means to meet ourselves with softness, what it looks like when we get (too) comfortable in our own suffering and how removing force can actually welcome greater expansion.
I am joined by Arianna Montanari, a Yoga Synergy teacher, Beekeeper and natural skin-care wizard and we talk about what it is to live connected to our own rhythm. And how one can lean into a practice of listening to ourselves instead of pushing, of cultivating presence rather than performance.
Together, we explore the tender intersections between physical practice and emotional well-being: how our bodies mirror our states of mind, how fatigue and restlessness can speak before words do, and how healing and growth often begins in the smallest gestures of care.
Surfacing moments from our own transitions — from travels, to the quiet ache of change, to disrespecting our boundaries, we explore how ease and joy can - too - be a form of resilience.
An honest conversation cultivating a kind and curious relationship to ourselves and braving the waves of life one fluid movement at the time.
Learn your own ways, because your ways are unique and you are the only one who has the possibility to learn them. Like for real, in depth. You are the only one in the whole planet who moves like you do. And that's amazing. - Arianna Montanari
About Arianna:Arianna Montanari is a Yoga Synergy teacher. The core of her craft is leading people back to themselves, helping them reconnect with their own voice and inner guidance through movement and getting to know their body.
After her own personal journey from pain and pushing through, to ease and intentionality, Arianna draws from her decades of experience, to help others weave choices that give energy into their life - and find the people, activities and practices that encourage lasting wellbeing .
She is also a beekeeper, creating natural body products with some of what the hive offers.
Get in touch:
Website: mielestrega.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/
This episode in headlines:
Reconnecting with the Body: From Pushing to Listening
The Mind–Body Conversation: Signals and Subtleties
Moving Through Emotional and Physical Transitions
Balancing Work, Life, and Self-Care
Boundaries, Self-Worth, and the Art of Saying No
Yoga, Longevity, and Non-Violence Toward Self
Lessons Lessons from Nature on Work and Rest
Learning to listen to our bodies
The Joy of Movement and Everyday Ease
Rethinking Work and Life Balance
Asking for Help as an Act of Strength
Resilience Through Softness
Embracing Self-Care and Boundaries
Returning to Compassion, Curiosity, and Joy
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
Sunday Mar 01, 2026
This episode is a quiet exploration of what it means to be in dialogue with ourselves — through creative practices, through breath and introspection. And what it means to honour our processes and our needs in a world that rarely pauses.
I am accompanied by Michelle Baker, breathwork teacher, mentor and guide to self-inquiry and somatic practices. We talk about the beauty of slowness, depth and long stories. And we explore the power of tactile creative practices - like sewing and pottery - and how they can become acts of healing and self-discovery.
Sharing generously from our own every day - from profound lessons to challenges - we inquire gently about what it means to be in co-creation with life. Curiously exploring what it means to take care of ourselves through different initiations and evolutions.
It’s a moment for anyone longing to breathe a little deeper, listen with curiosity and rediscover the art of inquiry - instead of answers - as a means of creating movement and connection.
About Michelle:
Alongside being a devoted student and practitioner, Michelle is a teacher, guide and mentor known for her grounding presence and steady counsel. She is the founder of Radiant Wellbeing, which is home to her ever evolving offerings that aspire to braid together the sacred, seasonal and somatic.
Her work is centered around supporting people in navigating personal, spiritual and seasonal evolutions by guiding them back home to the innate wisdom of their body through breathwork, movement, meditation and body focussed inquiry & coaching. She also mentors other visionary leaders and creatives in building and growing their heart-led, service based businesses.
Her love for poetry, perspective, nature and language is woven into the tapestry of all that she offers.
Michelle has been working with clients individually since 2013 and fostering community connection and growth through retreats, trainings and group gatherings (both online and in person) since 2014.
Get in touch:
Website: www.michellebaker.co
Insighttimer: insighttimer.com/michellebaker
Substack: substack.com/@michellebaker
Instagram: instagram.com/__michellebaker/
This episode in headlines:
Reflections on a Weekend of Rest and Near-Death Experiences
Stories, Podcasts, and the Power of Long-Form Content
The Joy and Healing in Using Our Hands
Lessons from Pottery: Letting Go and Beginning Again
The Body as a Site of Healing
Being Held: The Power of Connection
Personal Practice, Boundaries, and Balance
Intention in Teaching, Creating, and Sharing
Conversation as Healing practice: Embracing Diversity and Difference
Navigating Defensiveness and Polarization
Welcoming Contrast, Welcoming Growth
Talking to that which we avoid
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
Sunday Feb 15, 2026
This is a gentle dive into what it really means to be here, fully. An exploration of how we can stay present amid the noise and the strong pull of plans, objectives and efficiency — learning to return, again and again, to this very moment.
In this episode, I am joined by Oren Shai - Organizational Psychologist, Somatic Leadership Coach and Co-founder of Feeling School. We talk in depth about somatic awareness and the art of feeling sensations without needing to fix or control them. And we touch in the delicate balance between creating space and holding on. The quiet and loud ways in which our nervous system and learned patterns can shape our current reality - and how our inner landscape responds to the environment and relationships that we are part of.
By weaving together the science of our body with our personal stories of trials and realisations we surface a multifaceted view of what it means to practice and grow or interoception and connection to self. It’s an invitation to slow down, to listen inwardly, and to rediscover the nuances of being alive.
About Oren:Oren’s experience combines a decade in corporate learning and change with well over a thousand one-on-one hours of leadership development within budding 10-person startups all the way to 10,000-person giants, as well as collaboration with top universities researching applied team performance.
As the co-founder of Feeling School, Oren teaches his signature methodology to leaders seeking to integrate cutting-edge neuroscience with depth and humanity, helping them step into healthy, sustained performance, and an alive expression of leadership at work and in life.
Get in touch:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/oshai
Substack: https://workingwithfeeling.com
This episode in headlines:
Introduction and Current Lessons
Daily Practices for Presence
Balancing Anticipating the future and being here now.
The role of control
Small Shifts for Big Changes
The Importance of Repair and Integration
Embodying Emotional Awareness
The Journey of Neuroplasticity
Building a Connection to Our Bodies
We need others to grow
What does it mean to practice somatically?
Busting ideas about personal growth
Ownership and Accountability
Integrating Somatic Practices
Gentle Curiosity and Sensation Awareness
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
This is a curious search for balance. An honest conversation between two humans who explore what it really means to pursue peace and contentment, when both our inner and outer world offer so much contrast, dissonance and variety.
In this episode I am joined by Joana Castro, a Food Therapy Educator and consultant rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We use a big and generous canvas to uncover what a holistic approach to our wellbeing could look like. Taking us from the abstract waves of acknowledging and processing emotions, to the practicality and necessity of gentle and patient self-care through the different seasons of life.
Sharing our personal experiences, successes and disappointments, we shed light on the true pace of change and the role that curiosity and willingness to adapt our methods - little by little - can lead to personal growth and healing…that we are also able to sustain.
About Joana:
Joana is a modern creative polymath with a love for blending disciplines in unexpected ways—science, art, health, food, design. Her life’s work is a canvas made of all of them. Curious by nature she is likely to question everything and soak in new perspectives.
As a founder of My Own True Balance, she offers her services as a Food Therapy Educator & Consultant. (But never without creating space for her other big love - songwriting)
Get in touch:
Website: https://www.myowntruebalance.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanadscastro/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myowntruebalance/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myowntruebalance_
Medium: https://medium.com/@joana.7.castro
PLUS:
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Food therapy consultation (1:1) - at a discounted price with promo code: TB20
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This episode in headlines:
The Transformative Power of Music
Balancing Science and Art
Embracing Multitudes
What is balance even?
How is the concept of balance applied in life?
Inner harmony through the seasons
The Role of Emotions in Health
Embracing our emotions
The Pursuit of Contentment
Mood Swings or flow of emotion?
Meeting Emotions with Actions
Taking accountability for your healing
The Power of Food
Gentle Recovery and why we struggle with it
Personalize your healing
The Importance of Patience and Sustainability
Mindfulness and Breath Control
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
This is an intimate conversation about our relationship with life. And all the raw material that it gives us - whether pleasant or painful - to expand, learn, create and connect.
In this episode I am joined by Sofìa Laria, a concert pianist, piano-mentor and researcher of creativity and creative expression. Together we explore the idea of effort, what it can mean to our process and to our sense of self-worth. And we talk in depth about what it means to trust and engage with the impermanence of our experiences and performances…
Through the lens of our personal practices in music, art and human interactions, the episode sheds light on how engaging with an object, whether it's a piano or clay or a desired change (or impact), can help us not just understand, but also integrate and put to use valuable life lessons.
About Sofia:
Since the age of six, Sofia has passionately pursued piano, beginning her journey in Argentina and continuing her studies in piano performance in the Netherlands and Sweden with dedication and curiosity.
After completing her bachelor's in classical piano and studying anthropology at the University of Buenos Aires, Sofía followed her lifelong dream of studying in Europe. She earned a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of the Arts Utrecht in the Netherlands. Now based in Sweden, she’s pursuing a second Master’s while researching how music and artistic learning can support personal growth and positively impact society, bringing together her love for the arts with insights from psychology and cognitive science.
Her piano studio is a space for creative learning, where both lessons and one-on-one consultations offer a way to grow, reclaim agency, and find clarity in a noisy world through creativity.
Get in touch:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sofia-laria-piano
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sofialaria
Website: https://www.sofialaria.com/
This episode in headlines:
What is so good about effort?
The role of effort for self-worth
The Importance of Process Over Goals
Is it effort or suffering?
Can effort be playful?
What does it mean to be engaged?
Transitioning from Listener to Player
The Role of Honesty in Art
Integrating Theory and Practice - of anything
Being honest and being of service
Embracing Impermanence
The Power of Presence in Art
The performing persona - that is actually you
The role of trust in presence