The Science of Personal Growth with Disruption Expert Whitney Johnson

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 rewarding * How understanding the "S Curve" can help us recognize where we are in our own development * A preview of Whitney’s upcoming book, Steady Along 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 Advisors [https://thedisruptionadvisors.com/] * Whitney’s Books [https://thedisruptionadvisors.com/books/] * About Clayton Christensen [https://www.christenseninstitute.org/about/clayton-christensen/] * The Innovator's Dilemma [https://bookpassage.com/book/9781633691780] by Clayton Christensen * The Innovator's DNA [https://bookpassage.com/book/9781633697201] by Clayton Christensen, Jeff Dyer & Hal Gregersen * Creativity, Inc. [https://bookpassage.com/book/9780593594643] by Ed Catmull * FutureMe.org [http://FutureMe.org] (write a letter to your future self) Follow How We Future: * Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/] * @lisakaysolomon on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lisakaysolomon/] * @howwefuture on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@howwefuture] * howwefuture.substack.com [http://howwefuture.substack.com] Want to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com [hello@howwefuture.com]

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 time * Why allowing yourself to receive care can be harder than giving it * What community really looks like, and where you can learn to build it * How 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 [https://bookpassage.com/book/9798893030174] by Shira Stutman * Chutzpod! [https://chutzpod.com/] * Aspen Jewish Congregation [https://www.aspenjewish.org/] * Switch [https://bookpassage.com/book/9780385528757] by Dan and Chip Heath * How We Future featuring Dana Cowin, former Editor-in-Chief of Food & Wine [https://youtu.be/-QCDwx5CYDY] Follow How We Future: * Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/] * @lisakaysolomon on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lisakaysolomon/] * @howwefuture on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@howwefuture] * howwefuture.substack.com [http://howwefuture.substack.com] Want to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com [hello@howwefuture.com]

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 awareness * Redefine success when plans fall apart in high-stakes environments * Recognize that progress doesn’t always look like forward motion * Go “big and go home” instead of sacrificing everything for achievement Alison 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 website [https://alisonlevine.com/] * On the Edge [https://alisonlevine.com/the-book/] by Alison Levine * Lessons from the Ledge [https://youtu.be/6hUybmqUVmM?si=ZAVBRX7iJ4Pundwv]- Alison’s TedTalk * Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest [https://pasangmovie.com/] — documentary site (film Alison executive produced) * Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa [https://www.netflix.com/title/81719138] * Coach Eric Reveno [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-reveno-3b5a985/] Follow How We Future: * Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/] * @lisakaysolomon on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lisakaysolomon/] * @howwefuture on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@howwefuture] * howwefuture.substack.com [http://howwefuture.substack.com] Want to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com [hello@howwefuture.com]

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 harm * Why speculative fiction and “histories of the future” help us think more clearly about the present * How playful practices like mapping your monsters lower fear and open better conversations This 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 [https://dschool.stanford.edu/shop/assembling-tomorrow] by Carissa Carter and Scott Doorley * d.school [http://d.school] mission [https://dschool.stanford.edu/about] * d.school [http://d.school] Design Abilities: “Let’s stop talking about The design process” [https://dschool.stanford.edu/stories/lets-stop-talking-about-the-design-process] * The Secret Language of Maps [https://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781984858009] by Carissa Carter * Make Space: How To Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration [https://dschool.stanford.edu/shop/make-space] by Scott Doorley and Scott Witthoft * Map the problem space [https://dschool.stanford.edu/tools/map-the-problem-space] activity * Scott’s website [https://www.scottdoorley.com/] Follow How We Future: * Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/] * @lisakaysolomon on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lisakaysolomon/] * @howwefuture on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@howwefuture] * howwefuture.substack.com [http://howwefuture.substack.com] Want to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com [hello@howwefuture.com]

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 interest * How clear protocols can dramatically improve trust and engagement * Why connection, empathy, and dignity are measurable business advantages * How trust determines whether employees embrace or resist AI and change At 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 website [https://ericakeswin.com/] * Erica’s blog [https://ericakeswin.com/blog/] * Erica on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericakeswin/] * Bring Your Human to Work [https://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781260118094] * Rituals Roadmap [https://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781260461893] * The Retention Revolution [https://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781265158682] * EXTRA Commercial [https://youtu.be/jyl8eKa6faA?si=Xj4AqYT4ZfLfon-S] * Thank You For Being Late [https://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781250141224] by Thomas Friedman Follow How We Future: * Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/] * @lisakaysolomon on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lisakaysolomon/] * @howwefuture on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@howwefuture] * howwefuture.substack.com [http://howwefuture.substack.com] Want to contact us? Email hello@howwefuture.com [hello@howwefuture.com]