Through the Fog

• Ep 5/12 || Salt, Soul and Starting again - Samantha Skyring

  In this deeply inspiring episode of Through the Fog, Pierre speaks with Samantha Skyring, adventurer, visionary, and founder of the globally loved Oryx Desert Salt. From a transformative kayaking journey and losing her island dream, to single motherhood and building a business rooted in purpose, Samantha opens up about the intentionality behind everything she does. Expect powerful stories about resilience, spiritual connection, team empowerment, and the surprising truth about the white crystal we all consume daily. If you've ever wondered how to blend soul with strategy, this is the conversation. [00:00] Pierre's personal salt obsession & intro [01:00] Samantha's early entrepreneurship journey [04:30] Losing the island and gaining conviction [06:30] The accidental beginning of Oryx Desert Salt [08:00] The fire of single motherhood [11:00] The power of working from intuition [13:00] Salt: misunderstood, sacred, essential [16:00] The Whole Foods deal — built on pure intention [18:45] Table salt vs. Oryx salt — the truth [21:00] Energetics, purity, and the spirit of salt [23:00] Packaging with purpose — saving the planet one grinder at a time [26:00] Drumming, dreaming & the power of community projects [32:00] Building a team that dreams [35:00] “No one gave me permission to dream” — changing internal narratives [39:00] Scarcity, IQ, and the science of dreaming big [41:00] Caring for people: when leadership is pastoral [44:00] Creating culture: breathwork, books, and breakthroughs [47:00] Should companies be families? The new business ethic [50:00] Wrap-up reflections 🔗 Learn more about Oryx: https://oryxdesertsalt.com 💌 Feedback or guest ideas? Email Pierre: [email protected] Learn more about pierre https://thisispierre.co

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• Ep 4/11 || Fashion, Trends and becoming a Death Doula with Dion Chang

  In this episode, I reconnect with someone I’ve known and admired for over two decades, the ever-evolving Dion Chang. You might know Dion as a fashion icon, trend analyst, and founder of Flux Trends. But what you probably don’t know is that Dion is now a certified end-of-life companion, yes, a death doula. This conversation left me both grounded and inspired. We talk about identity, reinvention, what it means to say goodbye, and how ritual can anchor us when life is shifting beneath our feet. Dion’s journey from studying in Paris to midlife cliff-diving (his words) to pet funerals and corporate retirement is a testament to living truthfully, even when the path is unmarked. If you’re in the midst of change, or sense it’s coming, this one is for you. Timestamps: 00:00 – A 26-Year Friendship & Fashion Flashbacks Dion and I share how we met (in a feathered bolero, no less) and what it means to know someone across so many versions of themselves. 03:15 – What Is a Death Doula, Really? Dion explains his calling to become an end-of-life companion and how this work is about more than mortal death — it's about transitions, beginnings, and endings of all kinds. 07:00 – From Couture to Consulting: The Birth of Flux Trends Leaving fashion behind, building a new identity, and riding the early wave of social change and trend analysis. 12:10 – Shedding Labels & Personal Rebranding How Dion fought the persona of “fashion guy” to become someone new — and why that was so much harder than it sounds. 16:30 – Midlife Metaphors & The Fog We revisit a conversation from 15 years ago that shaped the name of this podcast — including cliffs, clearings, and hacking your way through. 20:50 – Business Needs a Doula Too How Dion is applying his doula training to help companies grieve, transition, and adapt with empathy. 25:40 – Extreme Pet Parenting & Pet Bereavement You won't believe the stats from South Korea and China — or how Dion is pioneering the world of pet doulas (and writing a book about it). 30:05 – Ritual, Loss & Meaning-Making From Buddhist chanting to memory stones, we talk about the power of ritual in human and corporate life — and why we need it now more than ever. 35:20 – Saying No, Growing Up & Purpose After 60 Dion shares how he filters every decision through one question: “What do I want?” And why that gets more vital with age. 39:45 – Resources & Ways to Connect We wrap with gratitude and links to explore Dion’s evolving world. 🔗 Follow Dion: https://fluxtrends.com https://www.dionthedoula.com/ https://instagram.com/@dion_chang https://www.linkedin.com/in/dion-chang-a8b5379/ 🎧 Subscribe to Through the Fog and leave us a review if this episode moved you, it helps more fog-walkers find their way.

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• Ep 3/12 || Divorce, Art and Finding your way with Lira van Staden

  In this deeply moving and honest conversation, Pierre sits down with artist, teacher, and divorce doula Lira van Staden. Together they explore the intersections of creativity, loss, personal reinvention, and what it truly means to find your voice again after life doesn’t go according to plan. Lira shares her journey from a childhood dream shaped by societal expectations to becoming a celebrated public artist and a compassionate guide for those navigating the pain of divorce. They discuss the cultural narratives around marriage, the subtle early signs that relationships are changing, and how grief can be an essential — and even beautiful — part of starting anew. This episode is a powerful reflection on resilience, authenticity, and the unexpected paths life asks us to walk. Get in touch with Lira: Instagram @divorcedoulafindingaway Whatsapp: 082 524 5375 www.divorcedoulaway.com Time-stamped Topics [00:00] Meet Lira: Artist, mother, and newly minted divorce doula [02:00] Early memories: How community shaped their friendship [05:00] Growing up on a farm and early dreams of motherhood [08:30] Art, identity, and discovering hidden callings [11:30] Megaphone Me: Giving voice to the unheard [16:00] Uncovering subconscious desires through art [20:00] How we sometimes “know” before we consciously know [24:00] Cultural expectations of marriage and the pressure to conform [28:00] What makes relationships last — and what makes them falter [32:00] Grief, guilt, and “gorillas” after separation [36:00] Creating new routines after loss [39:00] Why you should be careful who you sit with after a breakup [42:00] Redefining success, love, and belonging on your own terms Key Takeaways - Grief is not a detour; it is a necessary part of personal transformation - You can lose yourself in the idea of a life before you realize it - True love accepts, rather than tries to change, the other person - New identities are often hidden inside old stories - Trusting your instincts early can save years of pain - Post-divorce life is not survival, it can be a season of creativity and hope

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• Ep 2/12 || Midlife, Travel, and Psychology with Dr Marc Rogatschnig

  In this thoughtful and deeply resonant conversation, Pierre speaks with clinical psychologist and executive coach Dr. Marc Rogatschnig. Together, they unpack what it means to live meaningfully, navigate midlife transitions with courage, and discover the power of boredom, friendship, and self reflection. Marc opens up about his early desire to become a politician, his detour into law, and how travel became the education that truly shaped him. From there, he explores the challenges of modern life, the dangers of over scheduling, and how to reconnect with your true self. This episode is a slow burning masterclass in intentional living with insights that are especially potent for anyone approaching (or already in) midlife. Time - stamped Topics [00:00] What brings Marc joy [02:00] Who is Marc? Optimism, activism & restlessness [05:30] Idealism, injustice, and the pursuit of universal truths [08:30] Travel, home, and why Namibia still holds his heart [10:00] Childhood dreams politics, then law [14:30] The power of a gap year and real world education [16:00] Why he chose psychology over law [21:00] How do we truly get to know ourselves? [23:30] The forgotten value of boredom in identity formation [25:00] Friendship, risk, and the beauty of being unstructured [28:00] Why travel is a rite of passage [30:00] Midlife reflection, ego shedding, and relationship wisdom [36:00] From rectangles to circles: the AI future and human reconnection [40:00] How not to get stuck in the midlife loop [43:00] What does meaning feel like? Pull Quotes “You can always be true to yourself, but you’ll never make everyone happy.” “Boredom is the birthplace of creativity and self discovery.” “Most people get stuck in midlife because they double down on the old plan.” “The only real upgrade worth making is the one that brings you joy.” “Friendship and wisdom are the true markers of a good life.” “Our lives are run like diaries full, structured, and disconnected from who we really are.” “We don’t find ourselves by adding more we find ourselves by subtracting the noise.” Find Marc on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcrogatschnig/

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• Ep 1/12 || Entrepreneurship, Boxing, & Plant Medicine with Rob Paddock

  In this first episode, I sit down with entrepreneur, educator, and friend Rob Paddock. Together, we unravel what it means to live a life of depth, how boxing became a surprising teacher, and why marriage and fatherhood are proper spiritual practices. We touch on everything from men’s work, plant medicine, and the culture of overwork, to parenting, leadership, and the transformative power of committed relationships. Time-stamped Topics [00:00] Welcome & intro to “Through The Fog” [02:00] Introducing Rob Paddock — from GetSmarter to Valencia Institute [04:50] First meeting at an unexpected place — Vision Quests at an accounting conference [06:00] Rob’s life today — fatherhood, remote leadership, and nourishment [08:25] ‘Who is Rob?’ — seeking depth, shadow work, and creative identity [10:50] Lessons from the boxing ring — anger, embodiment, and safe aggression [16:40] Addicted to suffering? The illusion of value through overworking [24:30] Ayahuasca insights: “You do not need to suffer to find peace.” [29:00] Belonging vs. status — the paradox of human motivation [33:30] How marriage becomes the ultimate mirror [36:00] The value of fighting well — nothing is too small to bring into the relational space [40:00] Children as spiritual teachers & the creative force of family [44:00] Tradition as a guide — the forgotten wisdom of lineage [46:00] What does the world ask of us now? Pull Quotes “Life will present us with the people and circumstances to reveal where we’re not yet free.” – Rob Paddock “You can talk about this stuff until you’re blue in the face, but to embody it is a very different experience.” “I realized I had an addiction to suffering. I thought if I wasn’t carrying the heaviest burden, I wasn’t valuable.” “Boxing taught me more about myself than boardrooms ever could.” “Marriage isn’t there to make you happy — it’s there to make you holy.” “We don’t change easily. We change when life backs us into a corner.” “I seek depth. In business, in love, in self.” “Children are spiritual teachers. They show you what real service means.” LINKS Sign up to my daily letter: https://thisispierre.co Rob's links: https://www.valentureinstitute.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-paddock

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