At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.
Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
At the Coalface
Natalia Navarre - Shamanism, Intuition, and the Entrepreneur’s Journey
In this episode of At the Coalface, I sit down with Natalia, an entrepreneur and seeker whose story weaves together Russia, Ecuador, Canada, and beyond.
Born to a Russian mother and Ecuadorian father, Natalia grew up in Quito feeling like both an insider and an outsider. Her father, a doctor in the jungle, would return with stories from indigenous peoples that sparked her lifelong fascination with health, spirituality, and tradition. She went on to explore African-influenced practices like Candomblé in Brazil, connect with northern indigenous communities in Canada, and reflect on the Russian superstitions and esotericism that shaped her upbringing.
We talk about the renaissance of indigenous wisdom and psychedelics. For Natalia, true healing comes through inner work, supported by the role of community, something all spiritual traditions share, and something she finds sorely lacking in Western culture, where people often suffer in isolation.
Our conversation also explores her journey as an entrepreneur navigating political risk, the tension between intuition and control, and the resilience she forged through personal loss and reinvention.
Recorded on 13 August 2025.
Connect with Natalia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/natalianavarre/.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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