How We Future with Lisa Kay Solomon

You can’t be a leader unless you’re a continuous learner.In this special Season 1 closer, Lisa is joined by her mom, Dr. Bonnie Kay! Bonnie is many things: consultant, psychologist, continuous learner, competitive golfer, and lifelong inventor of her own path. Together, they revisit the choices, relationships, and philosophies that shaped Bonnie’s unconventional career and deeply influenced Lisa’s own work in futures thinking and design.During the conversation, Bonnie shares stories from her early days as an English teacher, her leap into psychology during a major turning point for women, the “shortest dissertation ever” on gender roles and marital satisfaction, and her later career helping leaders grow through quality management and emotional intelligence.You’ll hear:How “continuous learning” became her north starWhy the circle of influence still matters in chaotic timesThe power of great conversationsHer signature philosophies like “take the best and leave the rest” It’s a warm, funny conversation about ambition, family, reinvention, and the lifelong practice of creating a meaningful life on your own terms. A perfect end to Season 1.Some of Bonnie’s Favorite books and resources:7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen CoveyFierce Conversations by Susan ScottWomen Who Run with Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola EstésThink Again by Adam Grant (my mom literally gives everyone in her life Adam Grant’s calendar) 9 lifetime Hole in Ones, Impressive! An informal account of golf highlights by Bonnie Kay The Rise of the full Stack Learning Organization, Lisa Kay Solomon

The future is being built in the spaces most of us never learned to see.In this episode, Lisa talks with journalist and entrepreneur Jennifer Brandel. Jennifer is the co-founder of Zebras Unite, and creator of the Interstitium, a theory of the hidden connective work that keeps communities, movements, and systems alive. Jenn has spent her career naming the “in-between” roles that make change possible and giving shape to the people who do them.They explore:The Interstitium Jenn's new framework for the unseen connective tissue of societyHexagon people those who bridge local life and global ideasSacred hospitality how to create spaces where real transformation can happenWhy connection is the real antidote to loneliness, polarization, and overwhelmZebras Unite a model for building companies that are profitable and regenerativeJenn shares stories from journalism, civic innovation, and community building, showing how naming and noticing these patterns helps people feel less alone.This conversation is an invitation to reconnect with each other, design healthier ways of working together, and imagine futures built on reciprocity, meaning, and resilience.Links from the show:Jennifer’s websiteThe IntersitiumHexagon PeopleZebras UniteZebras Fix what Unicorns Break

Great coaches train better people, not just better athletes.Coach John Tanner (JT) is about to start his 29th season as the Stanford women’s water polo coach. On this episode of How We Future, JT and Lisa explore how coaching goes far beyond the pool. Over decades of leading championship teams, JT has developed a coaching style that focuses on resilience, communication skills, and the value of practice.He helps athletes become confident, empathetic, and thoughtful leaders. Whether it’s having his athletes make TED Talks for each other or facilitating weekly check-ins about how his team is feeling about their academics, JT prioritizes training methods that will help his students long after their athletic careers.JT and Lisa discuss:How high-pressure sports environments can cultivate empathyWhy JT integrates storytelling and reflection into his team’s daily routineHow intentional, consistent practice is crucial to navigating the highest-pressure momentsThe mindset behind coaching for long-term growth, not just short-term victoriesWays to translate JT’s coaching strategies into personal or professional leadership practicesLeadership isn’t only forged in the workplace. It’s practiced every day in the ways we connect, communicate, and lift others.Links from the show:Coaching Citizens Athletes, Stanford Report Article The Coaches Wore Cardinal, Stanford MagazineThe Right Call by Sally Jenkins (Lisa’s favorite book about sports and leadership) Stanford Women’s Water Polo Speaker Series See JT on Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Female Athlete Research Meeting (FARM)

Pleasure isn’t the enemy of sustainability. It might be the path to it.Today, Lisa Kay Solomon is joined by Dana Cowin, longtime Food & Wine editor-in-chief, storytelling innovator, and founder of Progressive Hedonist, to talk about how creativity, curiosity, and continual reinvention shape a meaningful life.From leading one of the most influential food magazines in the world to uplifting underrepresented voices and sustainable culinary practices, Dana has spent her career expanding our understanding of what “good food” means.You’ll learn:Why reinvention is less about starting over and more about listening to what excites you nowHow Progressive Hedonism helps us rethink pleasure, connection, and long-term well-beingThe role sustainable food practices play in shaping a healthier future for people and the planetWhat Dana discovered when she left her “dream job” after 21 yearsWhy curiosity is the engine that keeps creativity aliveTogether, Lisa and Dana dive into the idea of being a Progressive Hedonist: the belief that pleasure and responsibility can coexist. Dana shares how eating deliciously can also mean eating ethically, and how sustainability becomes far more compelling when it’s rooted in joy rather than guilt.This episode is a reminder that pleasure isn’t frivolous, it’s fuel. And when paired with intention, it becomes a powerful force for shaping a better future.Links from the show:Progressive Hedonist manifestoAre you a Progressive Hedonist? Take the quiz!Learn how to throw your own Progressive Hedonist dinner party!Check out Dana’s book: Mastering My Mistakes: Learning to Cook with 65 Chefs and Over 100 RecipesDana’s TED Talk: How ugly, unloved food can change the world

The science of a good day is also the science of a better future.This week’s episode of How We Future with Lisa Kay Solomon features Caroline Webb: leadership coach, behavioral science expert, McKinsey Senior Advisor, and bestselling author of How to Have a Good Day.Caroline’s work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and practical leadership. She shares how we can prepare for chaotic times and gain agency by understanding the ways our brains handle uncertainty, stress, and decision-making.You’ll learn:Why attention is your most precious resourceA simple three-part framework (“Know. Be. Do”) that helps leaders navigate chaosHow naming what you’re feeling instantly reduces stressWhy imagining a future scenario trains your brain to respond better in real lifeWhy realistic optimism, not blind positivity, is the mindset leaders need right nowThis conversation is a practical, hopeful guide for anyone trying to lead with more clarity, calm, and positivity. Caroline shows that the skills we need to navigate the future aren’t abstract. They’re learnable, repeatable, and rooted in how we manage our minds today.Links from the show:Learn more about Caroline and her projects on her websiteBuy the book: How To Have a Good Day by Caroline WebbTake Caroline’s LinkedIn Learning Courses: Science-based Habits for Modern Leadership and How to Have a Great Day at WorkLink to HBR Chapter: Guide to Dealing with Conflict by Caroline WebbEven more resources from Caroline Webb to help you thrive!Psychologist Podcast with Scott Barry Kauffman