Through the Fog

• Ep 9/12: Surviving the AI Apocalypse, the future of work and true value with Bronwyn Williams

  In this engaging and thought-provoking episode, Pierre sits down with futurist and economist Bronwyn Williams. Together, they dive deep into what it means to live purposefully in a chaotic world, the future of work in an age of AI, and how to retain agency in a society leaning towards automation and comfort. Bronwyn discusses the value of being a professional outsider, the illusion of goals for the hyper-intelligent, and her unconventional approach to decision-making and success. It’s a conversation that challenges norms and offers rich insights into how we think about work, value, and freedom. Timestamps: [00:01:10] – Where are you right now? Bronwyn on the liminal, nomadic millennial state. 00:02:11] – Why goals don’t work for really smart people. [00:04:34] – A day in Bronwyn’s life: reading, writing, and speaking. [00:06:30] – How Bronwyn uses AI to aid in the creative process, not replace it. [00:09:50] – Her mission as a professional observer and outsider. [00:13:29] – From spy dreams to futurist: Bronwyn’s unconventional career path. [00:14:52] – Is studying still worthwhile? Bronwyn breaks it down. [00:18:39] – What gives Bronwyn hope? People who plant trees. [00:19:34] – What makes her angry? The myth of no agency. [00:25:49] – Why we can’t have liberty, equality, and fraternity all at once. [00:32:53] – How Bronwyn makes decisions and navigates life. [00:37:35] – Embracing unemployability and escaping the “soggy middle”. [00:41:55] – The delusion of value in middle-class salary jobs. [00:44:00] – The psychological impact of overpaid roles and perceived entitlement. [00:46:15] – Technological progress and the risk to the squishy middle. [00:48:45] – How Bronwyn defines value and agency in a world of automation. [00:50:20] – Why most people crave direction over freedom. [00:53:00] – The outsider’s role in leadership, foresight, and change. [00:56:15] – The myth of the benign dictator and the desire to escape responsibility. [00:59:00] – What Jesus, Voltaire, and Mary Poppins have in common with futurists. [01:01:30] – Final thoughts on belief, free will, and the agency to shape the future. LINKS More about Pierre: https://thisispierre.co Find Bronwyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwynwilliams/ More about Bronwyn's work: https://fluxtrends.co.za Get her latest book: Survive the AI Apocalypse: https://www.takealot.com/survive-the-ai-apocalypse/PLID98648877

  --------  

  1:11:55

  --------

  1:11:55
• Ep 8/12: Finding Identity Beyond the Game – Flip van der Merwe on Rugby, Expat Life, and Meaning

  In this episode of Through the Fog, we sit down with Flip van der Merwe, former Springbok rugby player turned French-resident strategist. Flip shares his remarkable journey from growing up on a farm in the Kalahari, to playing international rugby, to raising a bilingual family abroad. We explore the interplay between tradition and modernity, the challenges of choosing where to raise children, the search for meaning beyond sport, and how language, faith, and culture weave into identity. 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:27 Navigating Language and Cultural Identity 19:02 Religion and Family Traditions 27:03 Childhood Dreams and Rugby Journey 32:54 Blessings and Curses of Talent 38:36 Education and Career Pathways 45:44 The Impact of Choices on Identity 54:40 Legacy and Masculinity in Modern Society 01:00:52 Legacy and Lessons from the Past 01:07:01 Navigating Difficult Conversations 01:13:05 Finding Joy in Parenthood and Fitness 01:19:34 Future Aspirations and Impact

  --------  

  1:26:22

  --------

  1:26:22
• Ep 7/12: From PR to Presence, a conversation about culture, founders and addiction with Sarah Rice

  In this episode of Through the Fog, I sit down with Sarah Rice, an organizational culture strategist and coach who has spent over two decades helping founders and leaders navigate the complex, often contradictory expectations of modern leadership. We explore the hidden pressures on entrepreneurs to become both “priests and parents” to their teams, how culture shapes behavior, and the power of being honest about your motives, even if they’re not pretty. Sarah also shares her personal journey through recovery, the lessons she’s learned about over identification with work, and why embodied leadership matters more than ever. This candid, warm, and occasionally irreverent conversation is a must-listen for anyone steering a business, and themselves, through uncertainty. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Transitions and Personal Growth 02:57 The Venn Diagram of Identity 05:41 The Role of Business in Community 08:47 Mental Health and Leadership Responsibilities 11:51 The Pressure on Leaders 14:31 Learning from Other Organizational Structures 17:40 The Importance of Values in Business 20:44 Defining Authentic Values 23:33 The Role of Storytelling in Values 26:29 The Complexity of Truth and Oversharing 29:26 The Importance of Community and Relationships 32:20 Lessons from Personal Connections 35:10 Embracing Uncertainty and Surrendering Control 42:42 The Role of Spirituality in the Workplace 49:42 Decision-Making and Intuition 01:00:50 The Power of the 12-Step Program 01:05:14 Navigating Paradox and Duality 01:09:07 Future Aspirations and Coaching Goals Find Sarah here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahelizabethrice/ More about me and the show here: https://thisispierre.co/podcast

  --------  

  1:25:56

  --------

  1:25:56
• Ep 6/12 || Life post Yuppiechef, Luck and Strategy with Andrew Smith

  In this heartfelt and insight-rich conversation, I sat down with my friend and mentor Andrew Smith, co-founder of YuppieChef and now co-creator of Brave Hardy. From the early days of web design to building one of South Africa's most beloved kitchenware brands, Andrew shared his journey of entrepreneurship, vulnerability, resilience, and the art of “staying in the game.” Whether you’re a founder navigating uncertainty or someone in transition, this episode is packed with lessons on strategy, partnership, and purpose. Timestamps 00:00 – 03:05 Welcome and introduction to Andrew Smith’s path through strategy, creativity, and burnout. 03:06 – 06:22 Childhood roles and emotional survival strategies—learning to be "the helpful one." 06:23 – 10:44 Anxiety and burnout during his time at Yuppiechef: the moment his body said “no” to high performance. 10:45 – 15:20 Leaving Yuppiechef and the identity crisis that followed. The grief of losing professional purpose. 15:21 – 20:34 Adjusting to life outside a known brand and role. What happens when you’re no longer “the Yuppiechef guy.” 20:35 – 26:12 Unlearning the need to perform for approval and validation—inside and outside the workplace. 26:13 – 32:00 Practicing emotional honesty, discomfort, and not rushing to fix things. 32:01 – 37:26 The liminal space after leaving Yuppiechef: identity shifts, awkward pauses, and not having a plan. 37:27 – 43:10 Writing as a healing tool. Reclaiming voice after stepping away from branded storytelling. 43:11 – 48:19 Building new rhythms of work—especially when you’re no longer on someone else's clock. 48:20 – 54:00 Redefining ambition in the wake of burnout: what goals matter now? 54:01 – 59:35 Navigating masculinity and internalized narratives about being useful, successful, and strong. 59:36 – 1:06:09 Letting go of usefulness: the slow detachment from career-shaped identity. 1:06:10 – 1:11:23 Recognizing old instincts—especially the reflex to prove value or fix things in conversations. 1:11:24 – 1:17:05 Reclaiming creative desire: the difference between generative curiosity and hustle. 1:17:06 – 1:21:40 Holding space for grief and tenderness. Accepting that rest doesn’t always feel good at first. 1:21:41 – 1:26:03 Creating from presence—not productivity. Imagining a different relationship with work. 1:26:04 – 1:30:09 Closing reflections: what the fog has taught him, and what he hopes others will allow themselves to feel. Find Andrew on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/agsmith/ Brave Hardy: https://bravehardy.com More about me on https://thisispierre.co #entrepreneurship #founders #strategy

  --------  

  1:32:51

  --------

  1:32:51
• Ep 5/12 || Oryx Desert 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 – 03:04 Opening: Introducing Samantha’s work at the intersection of spirituality, systems, and self-inquiry. 03:05 – 07:35 Samantha reflects on her teenage years and early sense of spiritual authority. Feeling more connected to the mystical than the practical. 07:36 – 12:20 Family dynamics, religious language, and the complexities of being “the good child” who carried others' emotional weight. 12:21 – 17:58 Unpacking ambition, spiritual bypassing, and how disembodiment can hide in high-performance environments. 17:59 – 23:14 Therapy, body-based practice, and the moment she realized “words weren't enough.” 23:15 – 28:49 How early roles shaped her adult patterns of caretaking, control, and over-functioning. 28:50 – 33:41 Shifting from achievement to presence: learning to let go of “doing” as a form of worth. 33:42 – 39:08 The disillusionment with coaching and spiritual branding. Feeling like a fraud while holding space for others. 39:09 – 44:25 Rupture and recalibration: what happens when you deconstruct your public identity. 44:26 – 50:12 Power, truth-telling, and the limitations of language in healing work. 50:13 – 55:39 Working with complexity: letting clients bring contradiction, grief, and silence into the room. 55:40 – 1:01:12 What “the fog” feels like in her own life—uncertainty, resistance, and choosing not to rush clarity. 1:01:13 – 1:06:28 The sacred and the secular: finding god in doubt, confusion, and the body. 1:06:29 – 1:12:11 Learning to listen again—why spiritual leadership now means being less certain. 1:12:12 – 1:16:27 Samantha’s practices for being with discomfort and staying open in transition. 1:16:28 – 1:20:15 Final reflections on beauty, complexity, and trusting what's emerging—even when you can’t see it yet. 🔗 Learn more about Oryx: https://oryxdesertsalt.com 💌 Feedback or guest ideas? Email Pierre: [email protected] Learn more about pierre https://thisispierre.co

  --------  

  1:20:30

  --------

  1:20:30

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Through the Fog