Wisdom Without The Guru
Wisdom Without The Guru
Podcast Description
Starting out, feeling stuck, lost, or simply curious about self-improvement - be it holistic, spiritual or however you define it? Perhaps you’ve ‘fallen off the wagon” and need support to get back on track. Join me for heartfelt stories, refreshing perspectives, and sometimes funny experiences that feel genuine and relatable- just as valuable as those of gurus! Hear guests from all walks of life share their inspirations and challenges, and come away with practical advice and tools to explore for yourself. We're all in this together, navigating life's highs and lows, celebrating our victories, learning from our failures, and taking those not-always-scenic detours as we strive to understand ourselves and our place in this world.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Centers on self-improvement, spirituality, and holistic health, featuring episodes such as Navigating Life's Transitions and From Banking to Bali, which delve into personal journeys, overcoming challenges, and exploring the intersection of personal development and spirituality.
Experiential and intuitive wisdom is our inner guru. Guests share their life journeys since childhood that have shaped who they are today, offering holistic, wellness, spiritual, and personal development advice, tools, hope, and inspiration. No selling, no hidden agenda—just authentic lived experiences of all kinds, reminding us that we are connected and all possess something to share that can offer hope, inspiration, and support to others.
In this episode, Ukrainian psychologist Kateryna Bikir shares the moments that shaped her before and after the 2022 Russian invasion — growing up with limited resources, the generations of trauma from war and conflicts, the realities she confronted as a young mother, and the choices she faced when safety could no longer be taken for granted.
We explore how she and her family faced sudden displacement after years of asking the question of ”what if?” became reality, what it meant to restart life in unfamiliar countries, and how her work in mental health evolved through each stage. This conversation weaves together identity, motherhood, migration, professional reinvention, and the quieter emotional layers behind beginning again — without sensationalising the circumstances that forced the change.
Key Takeaways
- Children normalise hardship when they have nothing to compare it to. Kateryna recalls accepting scarcity as “just life” until she saw other ways of living.
- Generational trauma shaped every branch of her family tree, from starvation to war to economic instability.
- Education was a turning point, giving her access to worlds and opportunities her family didn’t have.
- A health scare shifted her toward psychology, prompting her to rethink how she wanted to spend her life.
- Motherhood revealed the gaps in Ukraine’s medical and social systems, influencing her desire to support others.
- The 2022 invasion required immediate decisions, including whether her children would be safe or have access to medication.
- Migration is not linear—the Czech Republic was a temporary refuge, not a long-term landing place.
- Professional identity is often lost during immigration, especially when degrees are not recognised.
- Rebuilding life requires routine, community, and structure, particularly for children.
- Her current work focuses on bridging cultures, supporting refugees, and helping individuals find stability in new environments.
About: Kateryna Bikir is a Ukrainian psychologist, entrepreneur and educator who advocates for refugees’ mental health and equitable access to resources.
Connect through LinkedIn and Instagram
✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe
✔️ Share with someone who needs this message
✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app
✔️ Subscribe and support here 🙏
Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, TikTokand YouTube
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.