Know What You See with Brian Lowery
33 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsWhether we think about them or not, the people and institutions around us impact every aspect of our lives. In our workplaces, families, churches, or simply walking down the street every day, there are hidden influences on our behavior and outcomes. Brian Lowery is a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a social psychologist by training. Join Brian for Know What You See, where he talks to people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives about their experiences with the social forces framing our world.
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Episodes
Transforming Life Through Death
April 30, 2024 13:00 - 32 minutes - 37 MBWe’ve been looking at the forces in our lives that shape who we are and who we can be: our relationships, our social identities, our ability to choose. But all of this exists in the shadow of the knowledge that we will all die. This is so terrifying that most of us try to avoid thinking or talking about it. But what would change if we were better prepared for death and dying? How would it transform our lives right now? Guest: Adriana Prosser, Death Doula For more about Brian Lower...
Awe: a Pathway to Meaning
April 09, 2024 19:00 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MBIn the day-to-day of our lives, how often do we feel truly moved? Many of us think we have to get away from our daily reality to experience awe--the feeling that something is so wondrous and mysterious it's a little scary. It can feel like only extraordinary encounters with say art or majestic experiences of nature evoke awe, and we are left with too little of it. But maybe we can learn to cultivate awe and by doing so bring greater meaning to our lives. Guest: Dacher Keltner, Pro...
Is Free Will Real?
March 27, 2024 06:45 - 36 minutes - 42.1 MBWe like to believe that we are masters of our own fate, that we are the cause of our choices and actions. But what if that's not true? Imagine that all of our choices and actions are simply the product of history—whether that goes back one minute or 1000 years—and biological and environmental forces that we often don’t even understand. In this episode we're exploring the question of whether free will exists and whether we should even want it to. Brian’s guest is Robert Sapolsky: Pr...
Blurring the Boundaries of Race
March 12, 2024 19:00 - 39 minutes - 45 MBRace and gender are thought by many to be immutable features of our biology. In some places and spaces, we see significant challenges to this way of thinking about gender, but the biological view of race has proved more durable. How do we understand racial identity from individual and community perspectives? What’s changing about how we define race and how that shapes our interactions with the world around us? Our guest: Rebecca Tuvel: Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy a...
Society Self and Gender
February 21, 2024 07:00 - 36 minutes - 41.8 MBFor many of us, gender is an important part of how we understand ourselves. It affects everything, from the way we present ourselves physically, to how we make sense of others' interactions with us. But what determines our gender? The answer to this question is more complicated than we might think. The way we understand gender can reveal a lot about who we are and who we can be. Our guests: Schuyler Bailer: author, educator, American swimmer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Rebecc...
Watching Work…from Home
December 27, 2023 20:00 - 26 minutes - 30.7 MBWith so many of us now working at home or on a hybrid schedule, the line between our employment and our personal lives has been blurring. What does work/life balance mean when the boundaries keep shifting? What does our nostalgia for pre-pandemic workplace comedies like The Office say about who we are and who we used to be? And is the dystopian drama series Severance a warning, or a kind of wish fulfillment? Guests: Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Ce...
Finding Home
December 19, 2023 20:30 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBWhat goes into making a home? For many, it means a physical space, that’s true, and the useful objects we collect within. But it’s also a repository for our memories and aspirations. How we build or decorate our homes signals who we are, our tastes and values, and the signs of our success. It’s where we feel safe and connected, and where we welcome others we trust. But does a home need to be a fixed place to be a stable one? Guests: Le'Shaun Williams - Rapper, designer, photogra...
The Endless Swipe For Love
November 28, 2023 20:00 - 35 minutes - 40.9 MBA spouse, a soul-mate, a life partner - however you define “the one”, the search for that person is often confusing and fraught with challenges and doubt. And in a world with so much choice, is it better to enlist the opinions of those who know you best, like your family and friends? Or can more “objective” support like matchmakers and algorithms narrow down the field and yield true love? Guests: Barry Schwartz, Professor Emeritus in Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore ...
Different Friends at Different Times
November 21, 2023 20:00 - 37 minutes - 51.6 MBThis season Brian explores some of the topics from his book “Selfless: The Social Construction of You”. Specifically, how we see ourselves, and how our relationships and social interactions shape the way we live. Even before the pandemic, there was evidence our social lives were fraying. Engagement in social clubs, civic organizations, churches have been in decline and the traditional ways of meeting new people has lost ground to apps and smartphones. So what does this mean for mode...
Bonus: How Others Define Us from Think Fast, Talk Smart
May 12, 2023 16:00 - 15 minutes - 17.5 MBHere’s another podcast to add to your queue. Matt Abrahams is a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior here at Stanford, and in his podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart. he speaks with experts about the real world challenges of communicating effectively. From emails, to giving presentations or speaking at family functions, how can we best get our point across in business and in life? Brian Lowery was a guest on a recent episode, and he talked about his new book, Selfless: The Social Creatio...
Bonus: Brian Lowery on the Talk Nerdy Podcast with Cara Santa Maria
April 21, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 84.9 MBCara Santa Maria is the science correspondent on National Geographic's popular television series Brain Games and she hosts the weekly science podcast Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria. In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara invited me to talk about my new book, "Selfless: The Social Creation of "You." Hope you enjoy our conversation and be sure to check out the other episodes of Talk Nerdy, wherever you get your podcasts.
Worked to Death
February 24, 2023 12:00 - 34 minutes - 39.1 MBWhether it's the economic after effects of the pandemic, the disruption of work/life balance, or the increasing use of new technology - many of us are feeling the pressure of change at our jobs. In this episode, Brian talks with Brigid Schulte, director of the Better Life Lab at New America and host of the podcast, American Karoshi. We delve into her research into work stress, the impact on our health and well-being, and the challenge of combining work and care to build a more equit...
Learning What’s Next
December 14, 2022 02:30 - 31 minutes - 35.6 MBToday, it's still a fact that many employers require job applicants to have a traditional four year degree, and that finding work is often a combination of academic achievement, internships, and networking. But this isn’t the only formula for making a successful living. How can we change these mindsets to allow more workers to build satisfying careers and create a more diverse labor market? There are always opportunities to grow and opportunities to advance. Learning the necessary ...
Work on the Move
November 25, 2022 17:00 - 31 minutes - 35.5 MBThis week on Know What You See, we explore the growing category of remote workers known as “digital nomads”, people who not only work remote, they work from constantly changing locations. With more people transitioning from their jobs, reconsidering their work life balances and leaving urban areas, digital nomads working in the knowledge sector are searching for more freedom and flexibility. On this episode, Brian speaks with Margaret Lilani of Upwork, a platform for talent acquisit...
The Great (re-)Balance
October 31, 2022 22:00 - 28 minutes - 32.2 MBThe height of the pandemic lockdown caused widespread job losses, followed by a rise in the number of people quitting work, a sharp uptick the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades. On this episode, Brian Lowery talks to Rakesh Kochhar and Julianna Horowitz of the Pew Research Center who conducted a study of what's been called The Great Resignation. Then, we hear from Julia Pollack, Chief Economist at Zip Recruiter who discusses another work trend that's making headlines. Is "qu...
Bonus: Finding your self
October 14, 2022 10:00 - 9 minutes - 10.7 MBThis week, a special bonus episode from Know What You See: What is the self? What are we talking about when we say we know ourselves? Scientists believe the brain defines who we are, but Brian Lowery suggests that the self goes beyond our physical being, rooted in our relationships and interactions with other people. Brian Lowery is The Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior and senior associate dean for academic affairs at the Graduate School of Business. ...
Minding the Generation Gap
September 16, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 40.7 MBIn recent years, our idea of traditional office culture has been turned on its head by the pandemic, the rise of remote work, the explosion of the gig economy, real estate fluctuations and much more. Today's offices are a mix of work locations, communication styles and types of employment. Employees are at different stages of their lives and careers, and that diversity amplifies the complexity of our workforce. To delve into today's multi-generational office culture and how managers...
When The Side Hustle Becomes THE Hustle
August 20, 2022 03:00 - 31 minutes - 36.5 MBIn recent years, we’ve seen an explosion in the number of workers supplementing or replacing traditional 9 to 5 jobs with gig work of some kind. People like Joel Lantigua, whose gig work as a courier helps him maintain a certain work/life balance, and the flexibility to pursue other interests. But as more people flock to these types of jobs, what are the implications for workers and the economy? In this episode, Brian Lowery talks with Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and ...
How Do We Make "Work from Home" Work?
July 28, 2022 14:00 - 31 minutes - 35.7 MBThe pandemic caused many companies to shut down and go remote, which affected many small businesses who cater to corporate office workers. On this episode, we'll hear from Kelly Fitzpatrick, owner of Blue Park Kitchen, whose main clientele practically disappeared in the shift to working from home. Then we’ll talk to Stanford professor Nick Bloom to get a bigger picture of the economic issues surrounding remote work from, from questions about commuting or real estate, to challenges a...
Rediscovering Worker Power
July 07, 2022 00:00 - 43 minutes - 49.9 MBFrom teachers to baristas, warehouse workers to nurses, the media has been filled with stories of strikes, walkouts and union votes. The National Labor Relations Board says that petitions for union representation are up more than 50 per cent from this time last year. What's behind this surge in labor organizing? On this episode, Brian talks to Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor in the School of Management and Labor at Rutgers University. They discuss the relationships between worker...
Unrest at Work
June 14, 2022 17:00 - 20 minutes - 23.8 MBToday, some workers are asking their companies for more than safe working conditions and fair pay—they are pushing for values-based behavior and decision-making. Employees are making their voices heard on issues like companies’ customers, hiring practices, and content creation. What role should employees play in such decisions? What staff input will companies need to allow to attract the best talent? On this episode, Brian talks with Terra Field, a systems engineer who co-organized ...
Season 2 of Know What You See
June 07, 2022 20:42 - 49 seconds - 958 KBThe people and institutions around us influence each aspect of life. In workplaces, at home with family, or even walking down the street, there are social forces that affect every part of ourselves. Join Brian Lowery for Season 2 of "Know What You See," a podcast where we uncover these hidden social forces.This season, Brian talks with a range of guests about the shifting world of work, who and what shapes these changes, and what they mean for you. For more visit knowwhatyousee.co...
Race at Work
May 28, 2022 00:00 - 38 minutes - 44.3 MBWhat’s the cost of “just being yourself” when you don’t look like the majority of workers or the powerful people in your organization? When society is rife with negative stereotypes about minorities, when power imbalances plague workplaces, trust can be eroded and people churn through doubt and fear. That costs us all. Brian's guests on this episode are Josh Grant, a community manager who went public with his experiences of discrimination at his former employer, and social psycholog...
There's No Place like House
May 13, 2022 19:00 - 44 minutes - 51.1 MBThe early 1980s saw the sound of a new generation emerge from the loft parties and underground clubs of Chicago: House music. In spaces like the Warehouse and the Music Box, DJ's began to innovate around disco's four-on-the-floor beat, adding drum machines, deeper bass lines, and synths. At the time, Chicago had its first Black mayor, Harold Washington Jr., and there was optimism and energy in the air, a feeling of progress. After the racist and homophobic cultural attack symbolized...
Who Do You Think You're Talking To?
December 17, 2021 22:00 - 38 minutes - 43.5 MBOur voices are powerful tools. We can speak loudly or softly, with urgency or calm. We can make requests or issue commands. Whenever and however we speak, we reveal the way we see the world. But, it’s not just the words we use that people interpret, it’s the way we sound. Our accents, our cadence tells people something about where we’re from in terms of location and group memberships. But how we speak and the way we are heard says a lot about race and power. This time on Know What...
The Business of Food and Identity
November 19, 2021 23:18 - 32 minutes - 37.1 MBSelling food that represents who you are and where you’ve been can be a tricky business. What does it mean to serve “authentic” food, and why should it matter? In this episode, we explore how ethnicity affects the experience of creating a food business. Brian Lowery talks to Toronto-based chef Eva Chin about how she is reclaiming her family history and cultural identity through her dishes. Then Brian visits Nong Poonsukwattana, owner of Nong's Khao Man Gai in Portland, Oregon, to he...
Who Owns Food?
November 06, 2021 16:21 - 27 minutes - 30.9 MBWhat does it mean for food to be authentic? Who owns this or that recipe, ingredient, or flavor? Why do we care? This week Brian Lowery speaks with documentarian, writer, and professor of food studies, Von Diaz. She discusses the fusion of island culinary traditions with Southern-style cooking, and what she's been studying about food and authenticity. Plus, Brian looks back on a conversation with Tunde Wey, a Nigerian artist, writer, and cook who uses food to investigate issues of r...
Identity-Driven Design
October 21, 2021 21:00 - 35 minutes - 41 MBDesign is about more than just what looks good. From what we choose to wear to what we bring into our homes, design tells us what matters and sometimes who matters. And, as is true for all of us, a designer’s identity and experiences affect their ideas in both subtle and not so subtle ways. This week on the podcast, Brian Lowery talks with two artists about how issues of identity and power inform their work: Bryce Wong, footwear designer at Nike SB, and Jomo Tariku, furniture design...
The Blacker the Hero, the Darker the Truth
October 07, 2021 20:30 - 29 minutes - 34 MBThis week, host Brian Lowery delves into the world of BLACK with the comic’s co-creator Kwanza Osajyefo. The series raises the question: What if only Black people could have superpowers? How would they use these abilities, and at what cost? The conversation explores issues of representation in the themes, artwork, and characters in BLACK and comics today, as well as how the story of superheroes is changing in publishing and onscreen. For more about Brian and his guests, visit knowwh...
They Call Them Bruce
September 23, 2021 16:00 - 32 minutes - 44.8 MBAfter a year and a half of the pandemic, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, Marvel's first blockbuster film to feature an Asian American superhero did big numbers at the box office. This is from the same country where politicians were calling the COVID-19 virus the "China Flu", and we had a spate of violent crimes targeting Asian-Americans. In this episode of Know What You See, Brian Lowery talks to Jeff Yang and Phil Yu, co-hosts of the podcast "They Call Us Bruce" about ...
The Cost of Flying High
September 09, 2021 16:00 - 30 minutes - 34.7 MBWhat does it cost to achieve the traditional measures of success? What if your racial identity, your cultural heritage, or your family history was an obstacle to getting ahead? In this episode, two highly accomplished people talk about what success required of them. We move beyond the obvious necessities of hard work, talent, and perseverance and explore what people sometimes hide or give up, to exceed societal expectations. Brian Lowery’s guests on this episode are Julia Collins, F...
Coloring Public Spaces
August 26, 2021 16:00 - 27 minutes - 31.8 MBMany of us grew up playing in our neighborhood parks, using those shared spaces for family picnics, going for a run or a game of softball. Over the last year or so of the pandemic, we’ve found a new appreciation for the value of these outdoor community areas. But with a number of racially charged incidents in places like New York’s Central Park and Oakland, CA, we’re also learning anew how race is deeply embedded in who feels safe and welcome in these environments. Join Brian Lowery...
Welcome to Know What You See with Brian Lowery
August 09, 2021 17:37 - 1 minute - 2.29 MBWhether we think about it or not, race is an ever present aspect of our lives. From our workplace, to our schools, as we walk down the street, race is embedded in our everyday experience. But what's really happening, what’s my role, and what does it mean for me? Those are questions Brian Lowery’s been asking for “Know What You See”, a podcast about the hidden social forces shaping our lives. Brian is a social psychologist and a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. ...