Discover why most change efforts fail and learn to work with natural cycles of growth, release, and renewal instead of fighting against them for lasting social impact.

Von Columbia University Alumni in San Francisco entwickelt
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Von Columbia University Alumni in San Francisco entwickelt

Lena: Hey there, welcome to another episode of "Shifting Perspectives." I'm Lena, and I'm joined by my friend and co-host Miles. Today we're talking about something that affects all of us but rarely gets discussed properly—social change cycles and how to navigate them effectively.
Miles: That's right, Lena. You know what's fascinating? Most of us think about the future as just a straight-line progression from today—like today-plus. We plan our projects, our organizations, even our lives with this linear view, but that's not how change actually works.
Lena: Wait, it's not? I feel like that's how most of us are taught to think about progress—that things just keep moving forward in a predictable way.
Miles: Exactly, but according to research, that's completely wrong. The reality is that social change happens in cycles—like waves or spirals. McKinsey found that the average business on the stock exchange only lasts about 18 years, and 86% of big projects fail. That's because they don't account for these natural cycles of growth, conservation, release, and renewal.
Lena: That's actually pretty mind-blowing when you think about it. So we're not just talking about how to create change, but how to recognize what phase of change we're already in?
Miles: Right! And it's not just about recognizing the phase—it's about adapting your approach based on where you are in the cycle. Whether you're in a growth phase where resources are abundant, or in what some models call a "release" phase where old structures are breaking down.
Lena: I can already think of projects and organizations I've been part of that seemed to hit a wall unexpectedly. Maybe they were just moving through a natural cycle and we didn't recognize it?
Miles: That's often exactly what happens. And here's where it gets interesting—by understanding these social change cycles, we can not only navigate them better but actually use them strategically to create more effective and lasting impact. Let's explore the different models that can help us make sense of these patterns...