Shows
Yellow Eyed Cats with Bernie RothBonus 11. Advice for StudentsIn this *mini* bonus episode, Bernie and David Janka, our guest from episode 11, share the advice they give students when asked about classes, careers, and first jobs.Bernie likes to tell students that planning often doesn’t work — life is full of chance and change — and to embrace it. David encourages students to explore, enjoy the detours, and turn “mistakes” (aka learnings...) into part of their story.Together, their wisdom: expect the unexpected, and enjoy the voyage of discovery. 01:08 Bernie: Logic doesn’t matter, embrace change 01:52 David: Exploration over perfection 02:44 The v...
2025-09-1804 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth11. Life is a C***shootIn this (final official!) episode, Bernie reflects on how the most meaningful turns in life often come from chance rather than careful planning. He shares his own serendipitous journey to becoming a professor at Stanford (involving a case of two professors named Arnold), his unexpected entry into robotics, how a single phone call led to his pioneering work in design —and why saying “yes” at the right time matters.We’re joined by David Janka, a physician-turned-designer and faculty member at Stanford’s d.school. David opens up about leaving medicine to explore design, how the Designer in Society...
2025-08-2031 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth10. Projection and other useful toolsIn this episode, Bernie explores how learning from others helps us learn about ourselves, especially when we are seeking assistance. From mantras collected from colleagues ("We don't have enough time to hurry" and “All design is redesign”) to the powerful tool of projection, Bernie offers tools to help us navigate interactions, teamwork, and life.We're joined by Wendy Ju, a leading expert in human-computer interaction and professor at Cornell Tech. Wendy shares her journey from being rejected by Bernie when she wanted to take ‘The Designer in Society’ as an undergrad to later co-teaching a class with him. She...
2025-08-0631 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth9. We're all in this togetherIn this episode, we talk about the importance of shared humanity within teams or groups. Bernie explains his original, and often awkward, icebreaker “When was the last time you…” and explains how Stanford's Design Group operated without a traditional leader for over 40 years.From learning names with gestures to the “I like… I wish…” way of giving feedback, we explore Bernie's version of "radical collaboration" and why something as simple as where you sit can change your experience.We're joined by Ade Mabogunje, longtime Stanford researcher, who shares arriving at Stanford from Nigeria and experiencing Bernie's "disor...
2025-07-2331 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth8. Who are you really?Bernie explores one of his most liberating concepts: your self-image is malleable. From a show business manager who found it "really hurt" to be nice, to students writing down "10 things you would never do" and then doing them, this episode considers how our perceptions of ourselves can both limit and liberate us.We're joined by Jeff Brown, an engineer who transformed from a by-the-book government kid to a Silicon Valley CEO and climate entrepreneur. Jeff shares how Bernie's class gave him the confidence to see engineering as a superpower, and how his class project helped him manage...
2025-07-0929 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie RothBonus 8B. The Truth ProcessIn this bonus episode, Bernie walks you through his exercise, “The Truth Process.” Using simple guided imagery, he shares a helpful way to tackle something you’re struggling with or to let go of what you don’t need anymore. We'll talk about this exercise in episode 8.00:00 Intro 01:29 Get comfortable…04:25 The Truth Process
2025-07-0219 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie RothBonus 8A. The House FantasyIn this bonus episode, Bernie guides you through his exercise, “The House Fantasy.” By imagining and exploring a house as a stand-in for yourself, you might discover new insights about who you are and what’s going on in your life. It’s a creative way to get to know yourself a little better. We'll talk about this exercise in episode 8.00:00 Intro01:51 Get comfortable…04:42 The House Fantasy14:29 Bernie talks about the exercise
2025-07-0215 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth7. Bernie is with 'And'Bernie teaches that the words you choose can shape your reality. In this episode, we explore the subtle but powerful impact of language on how we think, act, and relate to others. From a simple yes/no exercise to the power of and versus but, this episode explores how language can either empower or disempower us—and why Bernie earned the nickname ‘Bernie's with And.’We're joined by Allison Okamura, Stanford professor and researcher, who shares how Bernie's language teachings transformed how she thinks about her research and how her daughter caught her saying "I love you, but...
2025-06-2529 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth6. You’re solving the wrong problem (aka Reframing)Ever get stuck on a problem that keeps you up at night? Bernie says it might not be the problem—it might be the question. In this episode, we talk about how reframing problems can open up a whole new world of solutions. Bernie also helps us spot when we're solving the wrong problem and shares tools to help us reframe.We’re joined by special guests Sheila and Harrison Wang, who took 'The Designer in Society' together in the ’80s when they were newly married grad students. They share how the class helped them navigat...
2025-06-1127 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth5. Bernie's Reading ListWhat shaped generations of Stanford engineers? A reading list that hasn't changed much in 40 years.Bernie reveals the backstories behind his famous (and famously intensive) reading list for 'The Designer in Society'—texts that ranged from sociology to sci-fi, all exploring the human experience in a changing world. We dive into why these particular books have remained so powerfully relevant, from The Adjusted American (found on a drafting table) to Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees (about the artist Robert Irwin).Plus, we're joined by former student Özgür Eris, who shar...
2025-06-0433 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth4. You give things meaningWhat if nothing has inherent meaning—and that’s actually empowering?Bernie draws on his decades of teaching ‘The Designer in Society’ to explore a provocative idea: We give things meaning. Including even: Your life has no meaning... unless you give it one. It’s not nihilism—it’s liberation.Join us to discuss meaning with special guest Professor Sheri Sheppard—who did not like the exercise when she took the class. Together, we consider how we assign meaning, how it evolves over time, and how it shapes everything from our relationships and careers to the smallest of...
2025-05-2824 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth3. Trying versus DoingWhat if sometimes ‘trying’ is better than doing? This week, Bernie makes the case for why the world and Yoda need to rethink ‘try.’ We discuss why ‘doing’ is still important, especially when it matters—we just need to be honest about the difference.We’re joined in this episode by Steve Myers who shares his roller coaster journey of founding and running an engineering consulting company after graduating. He speaks to how the ‘trying vs. doing’ mentality propelled him through it all.00:00 Introduction to Trying vs. Doing00:39 Bernie goes to Skywalker Ranch01:45 Bernie’s...
2025-05-2130 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth2. Project of your Life“Pipe dreams are okay, but they really get in the way of stuff.” — Professor Bernie RothStanford’s The Designer in Society isn’t your typical academic course — and Bernie’s assigned project wasn’t your typical assignment. It was a bold challenge to stop thinking, start doing.In this episode, we’re joined by former student Janay Smith, who shares how that experience assisted her in facing later setbacks or as she puts it: when she got “stuck with a wet fish in my face.” Her biggest lesson from learning and occasionally sparring with Bernie? “Everything in...
2025-05-1444 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth1. Reasons are Bull****Bernie talks about one of his most provocative ideas: Reasons are bull****, explaining that they often serve as excuses. Dropping them can unlock clarity and greater self-awareness, and don't we all need that? We also hear how being chronically late led to a personal epiphany—and a lasting habit shift.Plus, Bernie reveals the story behind the podcast’s name: a child spotting a cat with yellow eyes became a metaphor for worldview shifts.00:00 Intro to Yellow Eyed Cats01:05 Reasons are bull****03:39 Exercise: That’s a goooood reason0...
2025-05-0720 minYellow Eyed Cats with Bernie RothTrailer | Yellow-Eyed Cats with Bernie RothWelcome to Yellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth, a podcast about seeing the world differently—and doing something about it.Join co-hosts Stanford professor Bernie Roth and former student Krista Donaldson in this limited series inspired by Bernie’s iconic class, The Designer in Society. Listen in as Bernie challenges us to rewire how we think, live, and lead.Whether you're stuck, seeking, or simply curious, Yellow Eyed Cats will help you spot the obstacles and learn how to walk around them - like a lamppost. (You’ll get that reference if you listen to this t...
2025-05-0302 min