How We Future: Stories of Hope, Hype, and Gratitude

Lisa Kay Solomon
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

There is no "they" who should determine our future. We are the "they." Futurist, author, and educator Lisa Kay Solomon believes in doing hard things, optimistically. Each week, Lisa and her remarkable guests illuminate the skills and practices we all need to develop hope, hype, and gratitude: traits that are crucial to build towards a more positive future. As Futurist in Residence at the Stanford d.school, where she teaches courses like "View from the Future" and "Futures Thinking for Strategic Decision Making," Lisa has spent her career making the tools of futures thinking accessible to everyone from K-12 educators to global executives. Now, through How We Future, she's bringing that same approach to you. You'll hear from architects rethinking how we build, educators transforming how we learn, artists expanding what we create, coaches revealing what it takes to lead, and futurists mapping what's coming. So far, How We Future has covered how to incorporate play into serious work, how wisdom and aging can be competitive advantages, and how creative risk-taking builds resilience. Other guests have included Dana Cowin, former Editor-in-Chief of Food & Wine, ten-time NCAA champion coach John Tanner, and Ahmed Best, who plays Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars. Whether you're a student, a leader, an educator, or simply someone who wants to shape tomorrow rather than just react to it, you'll leave each episode with new questions, fresh perspectives, and a renewed sense that the future is something you get to participate in creating.

  1. 1d ago

    The Science of Personal Growth with Disruption Expert Whitney Johnson

    Where are you on your growth curve? In this episode of How We Future, Lisa Kay Solomon talks with bestselling author and disruption expert Whitney Johnson about when and how to change your path, stick with something new, or challenge yourself. Drawing on Clayton Christensen's theory of disruption, Whitney shares how embracing change can unlock personal growth and new opportunities. Together, Lisa and Whitney explore the S Curve of Learning, why feeling like an imposter is often a sign you're growing, the power of reaching out to people who inspire you, and the relationship between stability and disruption. In this conversation, we cover: Why personal disruption is the key to continued growth.Why learning often feels uncomfortable before it feels rewardingHow understanding the "S Curve" can help us recognize where we are in our own developmentA preview of Whitney’s upcoming book, SteadyAlong the way, they share stories about taking risks, reaching out to mentors, and why one well-crafted email can change the course of your career. Whether you're starting something new, considering your next career move, or simply feeling ready for another season of growth, this conversation offers practical frameworks—and plenty of encouragement—for embracing what's next. Links from the episode: Disruption AdvisorsWhitney’s BooksAbout Clayton Christensen The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton ChristensenThe Innovator's DNA by Clayton Christensen, Jeff Dyer & Hal GregersenCreativity, Inc. by Ed CatmullFutureMe.org (write a letter to your future self)Follow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram@howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.comWant to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    The Science of Personal Growth with Disruption Expert Whitney Johnson

  2. Jul 7

    Lead with Loving Kindness and Build Community with Rabbi Shira Stutman

    What does it look like to prioritize loving kindness, support for others’ success, and rest with intention? In this episode of How We Future, Lisa is talking with Rabbi Shira Stutman, a nationally recognized rabbi, author of The Jewish Way to a Good Life and host of the podcast Chutzpod! Shira is the full-time rabbi of Aspen Jewish Congregation and the former Founding Rabbi of Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, a groundbreaking spiritual and cultural center in Washington, DC. In this episode, Lisa and Shira discuss: Chesed (loving-kindness) as a crucial practice in this timeWhy allowing yourself to receive care can be harder than giving itWhat community really looks like, and where you can learn to build itHow rest is a human right Lisa learns about "schepping nachas," which is experiencing true joy from someone else’s success. If you’re curious how ancient wisdom can be radically practical and how small moments of connection can create huge ripple effects, this episode is for you. Links from the episode: The Jewish Way to a Good Life by Shira StutmanChutzpod!Aspen Jewish CongregationSwitch by Dan and Chip HeathHow We Future featuring Dana Cowin, former Editor-in-Chief of Food & WineFollow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram@howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.comWant to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    Lead with Loving Kindness and Build Community with Rabbi Shira Stutman

  3. Jun 30

    Courage and Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest with Mountaineer Alison Levine

    In the Season 4 premiere of How We Future, Lisa Kay Solomon talks with Alison Levine, polar explorer, mountaineer, leadership educator, and author of On the Edge, to explore what courage really looks like when the stakes are extreme. From leading the first American women’s Everest expedition to skiing to both the North and South Poles as part of the Adventure Grand Slam, Alison operates at the edge of risk, resilience, and reinvention. This conversation is about how to lead, decide, and keep going in a world full of uncertainty. Together, Lisa and Alison unpack what it means to: Reframe fear as a tool for awarenessRedefine success when plans fall apart in high-stakes environmentsRecognize that progress doesn’t always look like forward motionGo “big and go home” instead of sacrificing everything for achievementAlison shares powerful stories from Everest, including being just 300 feet from the summit when a sudden storm forced her team to turn back after two months on the mountain. What could have been framed as failure becomes, in her telling, one of the most formative leadership experiences of her life. The episode also highlights Alison’s work beyond climbing, including her role as executive producer of Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest, a documentary honoring the first Nepali woman to summit Everest, and her ongoing commitment to expanding who gets seen in adventure and leadership spaces. Thanks for joining us for the beginning of season 4. Please leave a rating and comment- we love to hear from you. Links from the episode: Alison Levine- official websiteOn the Edge by Alison LevineLessons from the Ledge- Alison’s TedTalkPasang: In the Shadow of Everest — documentary site (film Alison executive produced)Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa Coach Eric Reveno Follow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram@howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.comWant to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    Courage and Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest with Mountaineer Alison Levine

  4. Jun 9

    Assembling Tomorrow: Designing a Thriving Future with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter

    What do you do when the world changes faster than you can make sense of it? The Season 3 finale of How We Future features Stanford educators Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter for a conversation about design, technology, and what it actually means to adapt in a moment of runaway change. Scott and Carissa are the creative and academic leaders behind Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design and the co-authors of Assembling Tomorrow, a book that offers language and tools to design a better future. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why if you feel NUTS! Or “Never Up To Speed,” you’re not alone.What “bothness” looks like when technologies can simultaneously help and harmWhy speculative fiction and “histories of the future” help us think more clearly about the presentHow playful practices like mapping your monsters lower fear and open better conversationsThis finale invites us to slow down just enough to notice the narratives we’ve inherited, question the ones that no longer serve us, and practice designing — not just reacting — inside uncertainty. Links from the episode; Assembling Tomorrow by Carissa Carter and Scott Doorleyd.school mission d.school Design Abilities: “Let’s stop talking about The design process” The Secret Language of Maps by Carissa CarterMake Space: How To Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration by Scott Doorley and Scott WitthoftMap the problem space activityScott’s websiteFollow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram@howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.comWant to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    Assembling Tomorrow: Designing a Thriving Future with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter

  5. Jun 2

    How to Bring Your Human to Work with Workplace Strategist Erica Keswin

    “The absence of intentionality is a recipe for resentment.” This episode of How We Future features Erica Keswin, a longtime advocate for human-centered leadership and the author of Bring Your Human to Work, Rituals Roadmap, and The Retention Revolution. Lisa and Erica explore how leaders can intentionally design work environments that honor connection, dignity, and trust in an era defined by AI, hybrid work, and constant change. Erica shares three strategies to improve human connection that, data shows, increases ROI, productivity, and morale. In this episode, you’ll hear: How return to office policies may be working against an organization's best interestHow clear protocols can dramatically improve trust and engagementWhy connection, empathy, and dignity are measurable business advantagesHow trust determines whether employees embrace or resist AI and changeAt a moment when many organizations are defaulting to control, compliance, or exhaustion, this conversation is a reminder that bringing your human to work may be the most future-ready move of all. Links from the episode: Erica’s websiteErica’s blogErica on LinkedInBring Your Human to WorkRituals RoadmapThe Retention RevolutionEXTRA CommercialThank You For Being Late by Thomas FriedmanFollow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram@howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.comWant to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    How to Bring Your Human to Work with Workplace Strategist Erica Keswin

  6. May 26

    How to Stay Human amid Advancing Technology with Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman & Tech Journalist Chris Shipley

    What kind of leadership do we need right now? In this episode of How We Future, Lisa sits down with cognitive scientist and host of The Psychology Podcast Scott Barry Kaufman and longtime technology strategist Chris Shipley to explore what it means to lead with humanity in a world shaped by AI, uncertainty, and nonstop change. The conversation centers on their upcoming book, Leading for Tomorrow, and the question of how we use our most powerful technologies to become more human, not less. Drawing from psychology, history, and decades at the frontier of technological change, Scott and Chris reflect on agency, bravery, and why leadership today is less about control and more about creating the conditions for people to thrive. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why continuous disruption demands a fundamentally different model of leadershipHow AI can amplify creativity and self-understanding when used with intentionWhat it looks like to shift from efficiency and performance toward learning and becomingWhy optimism, humility, and agency are leadership skills we can all practiceLet’s try to rethink leadership as a shared, human endeavor where technology supports our best qualities instead of crowding them out, and where the future is something we actively shape together. Links from the episode: Pre-order Leading for Tomorrow: Unlocking Human Potential in the Era of Continuous Change and Endless PossibilityIf you Pre-order the book, fill out this form to receive special offers!Scott Barry Kaufman’s websiteChris Shipley’s websiteThe Psychology PodcastScott’s theory on Maslow’s sailboatScott’s course with Oprah on gratitudeFollow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram@howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.comWant to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    How to Stay Human amid Advancing Technology with Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman & Tech Journalist Chris Shipley

  7. May 19

    Discover New Ways to Learn (and Teach) with Thought-Leader Sanyin Siang

    “Curation is putting two pieces in dialogue with each other. And there’s a dynamism to that.” — Sanyin Siang In this episode of How We Future, Lisa is joined by Sanyin Siang, one of today’s most influential voices on human-centered leadership. Drawing on her work as Executive Director of the Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics at Duke University, Sanyin shares how we can build trust, foster meaningful mentorship, and develop the relational skills we’re rarely taught. Sanyin works at the intersection of theory and practice. She designs leadership labs for undergraduate and graduate students at Duke and helps organizations build high-performing cultures in moments of uncertainty. Her insights are shaped by patterns she sees across business, engineering, sports, public service, and space exploration—and by her deep belief that leadership starts with how we treat people. This conversation explores what it really means to learn from others, why curation and connection are core leadership skills, and how mentorship works best when it’s grounded in curiosity rather than checklists. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to build mentorship relationships without forcing themWhy curation, deciding who and what belongs together, is a critical leadership skill in an algorithm-driven worldHow to be a powerful apprentice, even when no formal mentor is presentHow to effectively read a bio so you know what questions to askWhether you’re a student, a manager, or a senior leader, this episode offers practical ways to build stronger relationships, take agency over your learning, and lead with greater intention. Links from the episode: Sanyin’s LinkedInSanyin’s Substack: Superpowers with SanyinSanyin’s LinkedIn Learning CoursesDuke’s Coach K Center on Leadership and EthicsPre-order Leading for Tomorrow by Scott Barry Kaufman and Chris ShipleyThe Geography of Genius by Eric WeinerFollow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram@howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.comWant to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    Discover New Ways to Learn (and Teach) with Thought-Leader Sanyin Siang

  8. May 12

    Learn About Futurism with Foresight Specialist Sabrina Sullivan

    Why are people inside the same organization planning for completely different futures? In this episode of How We Future, Lisa talks with foresight expert Sabrina Sullivan about what futures work looks like beyond buzzwords and trend decks. Drawing on her experience working with global organizations, like Ford Motor Company and Deloitte, Sabrina explains how shared future scenarios help teams surface assumptions, align decisions, and move forward even in uncertain times. The conversation explores the Foresight Spectrum—a framework that names the many roles foresight practitioners actually play, from explorers and translators to facilitators and connectors. Sabrina emphasizes outcomes: building future literacy, enabling better conversations, and helping turn insight into action. Lisa and Sabrina also dive into the human side of futures work: trust, emotional readiness, and why this work can feel uncomfortable by design. They discuss tools like scenario rehearsal, playful facilitation, and the Leaders for Humanity card deck, all designed to help people practice navigating uncertainty before they’re forced to react to it. The episode closes with Sabrina’s work bringing futures thinking to younger learners and a powerful reminder that asking “What problems do I care about?” may be more important than asking “What job do I want?” In this conversation, you’ll learn: The different roles futurists actually play day to dayWhy uncertainty can be a source of agency rather than anxietyHow practicing the future through play and reflection changes how we leadThis episode is a thoughtful look at how we can rehearse what’s ahead, build common language for complexity, and create futures that are more intentional, inclusive, and human. Links from the episode: Sabrina’s Website (by+by)The Foresight Spectrum Leaders for Humanity card gameUncertain by Maggie JacksonFollow How We Future: Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn@lisakaysolomon on Instagram @howwefuture on TikTokhowwefuture.substack.com Want to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com

    Learn About Futurism with Foresight Specialist Sabrina Sullivan
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About

There is no "they" who should determine our future. We are the "they." Futurist, author, and educator Lisa Kay Solomon believes in doing hard things, optimistically. Each week, Lisa and her remarkable guests illuminate the skills and practices we all need to develop hope, hype, and gratitude: traits that are crucial to build towards a more positive future. As Futurist in Residence at the Stanford d.school, where she teaches courses like "View from the Future" and "Futures Thinking for Strategic Decision Making," Lisa has spent her career making the tools of futures thinking accessible to everyone from K-12 educators to global executives. Now, through How We Future, she's bringing that same approach to you. You'll hear from architects rethinking how we build, educators transforming how we learn, artists expanding what we create, coaches revealing what it takes to lead, and futurists mapping what's coming. So far, How We Future has covered how to incorporate play into serious work, how wisdom and aging can be competitive advantages, and how creative risk-taking builds resilience. Other guests have included Dana Cowin, former Editor-in-Chief of Food & Wine, ten-time NCAA champion coach John Tanner, and Ahmed Best, who plays Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars. Whether you're a student, a leader, an educator, or simply someone who wants to shape tomorrow rather than just react to it, you'll leave each episode with new questions, fresh perspectives, and a renewed sense that the future is something you get to participate in creating.

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