The Cabrera Lab Podcast

#93: O-Based Education: How to Build Smarter, Freer, More Adaptive Humans

Get 15% off any systems thinking course with code ST-15 - become a professional systems thinker today: https://www.stsi.pro/category/credential In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University revisit two of their most powerful ideas about the future of education: “We teach humans, not subjects,” and “What if we taught thinking through content, not content through thinking?” They explain how O-based education—rooted in the DSRP patterns of thought and the Love Reality Loop—can transform learning by putting the focus on how students think, not just what they know. Instead of cramming kids with facts that quickly become outdated, O-based learning trains students to build mental models that adapt to reality, preparing them for an unpredictable world filled with misinformation, technology, and change. From the classroom to AI to the dinner table, this episode explores what it really means to teach humans how to think, discern, and grow. It’s a bold new vision for education—one that prepares students for life, not just tests.

#92: Think It Through: The Feedback You Don’t Want Is the Feedback You Need

In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack one of life’s most universal challenges: how to take feedback that clashes with your self-image. What starts as a simple question—“How do I handle feedback that hurts?”—turns into a deep exploration of identity, ego, and growth. They reveal how most people unconsciously build mental “castle walls” around their self-concept, blocking feedback that could help them evolve. Through humor, real-world examples, and systems thinking tools like part–whole, is/is not, and boundaries, they show how to create a semi-permeable mind—one that protects what matters while staying open to truth. If you’ve ever bristled at criticism, struggled to take feedback, or wondered why certain comments hit harder than others, this episode will help you understand yourself—and others—on a whole new level.

#91: From Deming to Donella: Rating the Top Systems Thinking Quotes

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take a rapid-fire tour through some of the most famous systems thinking quotes from legends like Donella Meadows, Peter Senge, Russell Ackoff, W. Edwards Deming, and even the Buddha. Laura reads each quote, and Derek rates them 1–10 on validity, reliability, and usefulness—revealing which ideas stand up to science and which ones fall apart under scrutiny. From “Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets” (spoiler: a 10) to “Reality is made up of circles, but we see straight lines” (not so much), this episode separates truth from myth with humor, depth, and a bit of friendly roasting. If you’ve ever wondered which systems thinking ideas actually hold up—and which just sound smart—this one’s for you.

#90: Think it Through: Stop Arguing Perspectives, Start Solving Systems

In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University tackle two everyday problems that reveal the hidden power of systems thinking. They start by breaking down why theory and practice are never truly separate, showing how real solutions emerge when people think structurally—whether they’re leading teams or navigating family life. Using a 7% market growth challenge as a case study, they introduce a powerful move called P Gen S Drop P—a simple way to align marketing, sales, and operations around a shared mental model instead of competing perspectives. Then, they apply the same logic to a deeply relatable family conflict between two sisters stuck in a feedback loop of stress and unhealthy habits. From corporate strategy to personal relationships, this episode proves one thing: when you stop debating perspectives and start diagramming systems, you can see the real structure beneath every problem—and finally solve it.

#89: Think It Through: Boundaries, Guilt, and Getting Your Time Back

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University help a listener untangle a familiar problem: saying yes to everything and ending up exhausted, resentful, and burned out. They diagram the hidden mental model behind overcommitment—a self-made loop of guilt, fear, and misplaced responsibility—and show how systems thinking can break it. You’ll learn how to set real boundaries without guilt, stop assuming what others think of you, and reclaim your time and energy. From the “2x4 Guy” (you’ll get it) to emotional intelligence and the Rar Quad, this episode offers practical, mindset-shifting tools to help you stop reacting and start acting with purpose.