Thought Lounge Podcast

This week's episode (episode 6) features a question posed by Lorri Sulpizio, an activist for women in leadership, as well as a professor of leadership at USD and the CEO of the Lotus Leadership Institute, about polarization in America, answered by six diverse guests (see below): The recent election has showed a more divided and polarized America than we’ve seen in awhile. The tendency to make those with different viewpoints than us “the other” seems to be contributing to a fractured and fearful country. Is it possible to create a more unified country? What conversations are needed and how can we begin to connect with each other across difference? The guests featured in this episode are Lorri Sulpizio (CEO of the Lotus Leadership Institute), Justin Brooks (Director of the California Innocence Project), Mauro Sifuentes (Youth Program Manager at a domestic violence nonprofit), and Brian Kim (writer for California Magazine). This episode is part of the We Need To Talk series: conflicting perspectives, presente

This week's episode (episode 5) features a question posed by Brian Kim, writer for the California Magazine, about American morality, answered by six diverse guests (see below): Is it environmentally moral to be an American? How about in regards to American foreign policy? The guests featured in this episode are Lorri Sulpizio (CEO of the Lotus Leadership Institute), Justin Brooks (Director of the California Innocence Project), Mauro Sifuentes (Youth Program Manager at a domestic violence nonprofit), and Brian Kim (writer for California Magazine). This episode is part of the We Need To Talk series: conflicting perspectives, presented side-by-side, with utmost respect for one another.

This week's episode (episode 4) features a question posed by Mauro Sifuentes, a Youth Program Manager at a domestic violence nonprofit, about Sexual Violence, answered by six diverse guests (see below): Recent news is showing a big push to hold individuals accountable for acts of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Do you think that the degree of outrage toward these individuals is justified and will it help to prevent future harm? Or could this outrage also come from our cultural desire to punish individuals through legal and prison systems, never really getting to the roots of the problem - and what exactly are those roots? The guests featured in this episode are Lorri Sulpizio (CEO of the Lotus Leadership Institute), Justin Brooks (Director of the California Innocence Project), Mauro Sifuentes (Youth Program Manager at a domestic violence nonprofit), and Brian Kim (writer for California Magazine). This episode is part of the We Need To Talk series: conflicting perspectives, presented side-by-side, wi

This week's episode (episode 3) features a question posed by Justin Brooks, Director of the California Innocence Project, on prison systems, answered by six diverse guests (see below). What role, if any, should victims and their families play in the criminal justice system? Should they be allowed to testify at sentencings about the impact the crime has had on their individual lives? How do you think being a victim of a crime might change your beliefs? The guests featured in this episode are Lorri Sulpizio (CEO of the Lotus Leadership Institute), Justin Brooks (Director of the California Innocence Project), Mauro Sifuentes (Youth Program Manager at a domestic violence nonprofit), and Brian Kim (writer for California Magazine). This episode is part of the We Need To Talk series: conflicting perspectives, presented side-by-side, with utmost respect for one another.

This week's episode (Episode 2) features a question posed by Stephanie Caughlin, the CEO of Seabreeze Organic Farm, about feeding the masses, answered by six diverse guests (see below): The world’s human population is expected to increase from current 7.3 billion people to 8.5 billion in 14 years. By whom and how might food be produced to feed the masses? The guests featured in this episode are Lorri Sulpizio (CEO of the Lotus Leadership Institute), Justin Brooks (Director of the California Innocence Project), Mauro Sifuentes (Youth Program Manager at a domestic violence nonprofit), and Brian Kim (writer for California Magazine). This episode is part of the We Need To Talk series: conflicting perspectives, presented side-by-side, with utmost respect for one another. We Need To Talk Series (Episode 2). The question on this week's episode was posed by . Six diverse perspectives on Feeding the Masses. Part of the We Need To Talk series: conflicting perspectives, presented side-by-side, with utmost respect

We Need To Talk Series (Episode 1). The question on this week's episode was posed by Lorri Sulpizio, a professor of Leadership at USD and Founder of the Lotus Leadership Institute: Leadership continues to be viewed as the same thing as roles of authority (CEO, Boss, Senator), and “leadership” roles are still held predominantly by white, heterosexual, males. Why is the concept of leadership still associated so strongly with men? What will it take for us to embrace a non-masculinized view of leadership and begin to open leadership up to women? Why is the concept of leadership very white-centered? What will it take for us to fully embrace leaders of color? Part of the We Need To Talk series: conflicting perspectives, presented side-by-side, with utmost respect for one another. Featuring Lorri Sulpizio (CEO of the Lotus Leadership Institute), Justin Brooks (Director of the California Innocence Project), Stephanie Caughlin (CEO of Seabreaze Organic Farm), Mauro Sifuentes (Youth Program Manager at a domestic vi

A conversation on listening without judgment. Conversation led by professor of design thinking at UC Berkeley, Clark Kellogg. Joining Clark in the conversation were Antonio Montalban (UC Berkeley professor of mathematics), Sarah Brazier (Bay Area actress), Michael Ranney (UC Berkeley professor of cognitive science), and Axel Cramer (Founder of Thought Lounge). Episode hosted by Thought Lounge Founder, Axel Cramer.

A conversation on "otherizing" and the election. How can we come together across difference? Conversation led by Bay Area Actress Sarah Brazier. Episode hosted by Thought Lounge Founder, Axel Cramer. Featured guests including Antonio Montalban (UC Berkeley professor of mathematics), Clark Kellogg (UC Berkeley professor of design thinking), Michael Ranney (UC Berkeley professor of cognitive science), and Axel Cramer (Founder of Thought Lounge). For more on TL Sessions, visit thoughtlounge.org/tl-sessions

Professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley, Antonio Montalban, leads a conversation with other Berkeley professors on deciphering truth in media. Joining him in the conversation is Sarah Brazier (Bay Area actress), Michael Ranney (professor of cognitive science at UC Berkeley), Clark Kellogg (professor of design thinking at UC Berkeley), and Axel Cramer (founder of Thought Lounge). This episode was hosted by Axel Cramer. Please leave comments below and share on social media tagging #ThoughtLounge!

Professor of cognitive science at UC Berkeley, Michael Ranney, leads a conversation on the nature of understanding as it relates to climate change. Joining him in the conversation are Sarah Brazier (Bay Area actress), Antonio Montalbon (professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley), Clark Kellogg (professor of design thinking at UC Berkeley), and Axel Cramer (Founder of Thought Lounge). For more information on Michael's work, visit and share http://HowGlobalWarmingWorks.org.

On this episode we have an excerpt from a Thought Lounge Session with Sven Neth on cognitive bias. Sven played a key role in the early development of Thought Lounge and is currently pursuing a PhD in psychology at UC Berkeley. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes to be the first to listen to our latest series entitled “We Need To Talk” where we showcase different perspectives from our society, particularly less-heard, but commonly-held, on the hardest questions relevant to the present state of our society.

On this episode we have an excerpt from a Thought Lounge Session with Ted Miguel, a professor of Economics at UC Berkeley on the topic of climate change. Ted earned degrees in both Economics and Mathematics from MIT and received a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. He was awarded the 2005 Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, and was the winner of the 2005 Kenneth J. Arrow Prize along with a slew of teaching awards.

Dylan Bier and Collin Walker are action-oriented thought leaders in the dialogue movement. They worked together between January 2015 and August 2016 to develop Thought Lounge, a social innovation aimed at fostering the practice of intentional, in-person dialogue in the college campus sphere. In this podcast, listeners are given a brutally honest look into their experiences, stories, push-back, successes and failures during Thought Lounge’s startup phases.

As the Thought Lounge Podcast transitions to a new era we put your ears at ease with the voice of the new host and producer of the Thought Lounge Podcast, Axel Cramer in a TL Session on the topic of the conscious use of technology.

Dean Nelson, Director of the Journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University and the host of the Writers Symposium by the Sea speaks on storytelling.

On this episode we have an excerpt from a thought lounge session with Dylan Bier on Motivating Change.

Mike Dorrell, Professor of Biology at Point Loma Nazarine University discusses the intersection of science and faith.

This week we have Dr. Roxanne Kymaani, a professor at National University, speak on the complexity of conversation at Thought Lounge's 2nd annual gala. Dr. Kymaani is a leader in the development and implementation of change initiatives in business and educational operations. She specializes in team effectiveness, dialogue, group problem solving, and community building, emphasizing communication, creativity and discovery.

CEO and Founder of Thought Lounge, Axel Cramer, gives an update on the organization and future plans. To donate go to thoughtlounge.org, click on "about", then click "donate". If you prefer to write a check, make the payment to "Mission Edge San Diego" with the memo "Thought Lounge". Send to 4422 Caminito Pedernal, San Diego 92117. We really appreciate your support!!!

In our Big Questions series, we invite 6 people to answer 6 big questions. Each episode is one question. Our guests in series 2 are: Eric Silverman, Gary McIntire, Logan Mitchell, Olivia Light, Leo Hurtado and Andy Felando. On this episode, our guests answer the question, “What is you most hilarious life story?”