#38: Surviving Brain Tumor; Iyengar Yoga; Fear vs. Surrender; From Paralysis to Purpose

#40: Science vs. Pseudo-science; Climate Panic; Critical Thinking; Luxury Beliefs & Dogma

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes philosopher, writer, and former Ghent University academic Maarten Boudry for a deep conversation about science, critical thinking, climate policy, ideology, and the Israel-Gaza debate. Maarten begins with his work on the line between science and pseudoscience, explaining why good reasoning is not limited to universities, but applies to everyday life, politics, and public debates. Andras and Maarten discuss Karl Popper, confirmation bias, peer review, and why even scientific institutions can be shaped by groupthink when politics enters the picture. They then turn to climate change, the IPCC, fossil fuels, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and the problem of turning science into activism. Maarten argues for a more realistic view of trade-offs, especially when Western climate priorities are imposed on poorer countries that still need cheap energy for development.The conversation later moves into “luxury beliefs”, Western arrogance, Israel after October 7, and the use of words like genocide and famine in the Gaza war. Maarten reflects on why he spoke publicly against the genocide accusation, how echo chambers form in academia and the media, and why sloppy or weaponized language can have serious real world consequences.

#39: Sound Healing Therapy; From Anxiety to Calm; Singing Bowls; Body and Sound

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Jorge Zain, an Argentinian music therapist, entrepreneur, and sound bath facilitator based in Brussels, for a conversation about sound, vibration, healing, and human connection.Jorge shares how he moved to Belgium during the pandemic while his company Vibracustica was growing in Argentina, and explains how he built a school and business around sound therapy, vibroacoustic therapy, and handmade instruments.He breaks down the difference between simply listening to relaxing music and physically feeling sound through vibration, including how low frequencies can calm the nervous system and help people enter deeper states of relaxation. Andras and Jorge discuss altered states of consciousness, intuition, clarity, overstimulation, and why sound can create space for reflection in a world full of constant distraction. They also talk about rituals, group intention, corporate sound experiences, the role of music in building community, and the danger of replacing real human connection with machines. Jorge explains the science behind vibroacoustic therapy, its possible benefits for pain, stress, anxiety, and sleep, while also being clear about its limits, risks, and the importance of common sense. The conversation moves from singing bowls and gongs to trust, creativity, and the power of shared experiences to help people reconnect with themselves and others.

#38: Surviving Brain Tumor; Iyengar Yoga; Fear vs. Surrender; From Paralysis to Purpose

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble Andras speaks with Shai Kaplan about her life-changing medical crisis she faced at 14: three brain tumors led to an emergency surgery, major vision loss, and years of pain, fear, and uncertainty. Shai reflects on what it meant to live through repeated operations, accept the possibility of dying young, and spend years moving around the world while trying to cope with physical suffering and a deep sense of isolation. She talks about how a chance encounter in India led her to Iyengar yoga at a point when she was not looking for healing, only a way to make each day a little more bearable. From there, Shai tells how she learned discipline, precision, and rehabilitation as she became an Iyengar yoga practitioner. This method uses props, sequencing, timing, and close attention to the body as a whole to improve general wellbeing and patients with various conditions. Shai explains how she got to know B.K.S. Iyengar himself, the pioneer and creator of the Iyengar yoga method and how years of daily practice with him gradually changed her condition, and restored her independence. She recounts how she eventually started an international project where she and her team cooperate using the Iyengar yoga approach with hospitals to help patients with severe injuries, neurological conditions, cancer, and other complex cases improve their quality of life alongside conventional care. The episode is an incredible story about survival, acceptance, discipline, perseverance, the intelligence of the body, and the possibility of turning extreme suffering into service for others.

#36: Europe: Owned Continent; American Control; US Cultural & Economic Impact; Ally or Adversary

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with journalist and author David Keating about his book The Owned Continent and the argument at its core: that Europe remains deeply dependent on the United States not only militarily, but also culturally, economically and psychologically. Dave discusses his path from the United States to Brussels, how his early belief in the European project was shaped by the Iraq War and America’s political dysfunction, and why he came to see the EU as a possible alternative pole in world affairs.The conversation then goes into the three main pillars of dependence he describes in the book: the dominance of American pop culture and media in European daily life, Europe’s reliance on US platforms, payment systems and financial infrastructure, and the long-standing military imbalance at the heart of the transatlantic relationship.They also discuss why many Europeans still struggle to imagine the US as an adversary, how weak civic understanding of EU politics feeds that dependence, why European leaders have been slow to act despite shifting public opinion, and what a more self-confident, federal and strategically independent Europe might realistically require in practice.

#35: Cultural Identity; European Sovereignty; Conservative Federalism; Civilization vs. Disorder

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Nikodem, director of communications of Ave Europa, for a conversation about European federalism, identity, and the political and economic pressures shaping Europe today. Nikodem explains why building a conservative pan-European political force that can move beyond national fragmentation and push toward a more unified and resilient Europe is needed. They discuss the main challenges facing the continent, including geopolitical threats from Russia and shifting relations with the United States, economic woes despite strong fundamentals, and the impact of migration on social cohesion and public trust. The conversation explores why existing federalist movements have struggled to gain broad support, arguing that they often fail to address the practical concerns of everyday Europeans, especially around security, economic opportunity, and cultural continuity. Andras challenges how such an ambitious project could realistically overcome national interests, institutional constraints, and voter skepticism, leading to a deeper discussion on incentives within EU structures, the need for transnational parties, and the limits of current governance models.They also reflect on European identity, looking at its roots through philosophy, political traditions, and cultural evolution, while acknowledging tensions between liberal values and the need for societal stability. The episode closes on Nikodem’s background in philosophy and storytelling, and his belief that Europe needs a new narrative to thrive in a fragmented and competitive global landscape.