“You can’t fix the world unless you fix yourself” – Professor Bernie Roth
This is a podcast about seeing the world differently—and doing something about it. Join co-hosts Stanford professor Bernie Roth and former student Krista Donaldson in this limited series inspired by Bernie’s iconic class, The Designer in Society. Listen in as Bernie challenges us to rewire how we think, live, and lead.
Check out our instagram account (@yelloweyedcatspodcast) for show extras and announcements.
Bonus 12. The Designer in Society continues (to evolve!)
What happens when you take a leap without knowing exactly how it will turn out?
In this bonus episode, Krista sits down with Bernie and Perry Klebahn, who now teaches The Designer in Society, to reflect on the evolution of the course — and the changing philosophies behind it. Recorded on the eve of the Stanford d.school’s 20th anniversary, two years after Bernie’s retirement, this conversation is part history, part love letter to teaching, and part reminder that learning often works best when you’re willing to take the leap before you have all the answers.
We talk about why doing—not overthinking—has always been at the course’s core. Bernie and Perry touch on the beloved class projects, taking small but meaningful actions, and creating a community built on presence, trust, and real conversation.
00:00 A willingness to give things a chance
00:59 Perry’s path to Stanford, through industry, and teaching with Bernie
01:44 The legendary art Professor Matt Kahn
04:31 How The Designer in Society evolved with the d.school and Perry
11:29 More on projects and taking the first real step
17:11 Prototyping life decisions with projects
22:06 Long-form reading, presence, and real conversation
23:13 No absences and don’t be late (or you fail the course)
24:08 Exercises that create trust and discomfort
25:56 Letting the class evolve
27:20 Appreciations & Regrets
32:15 The Blind Walk exercise
Follow us on Instagram @yelloweyedcatspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/yelloweyedcatspodcast) for fun extras.
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson
Producer: Krista Donaldson
17 Sept 2025
Bonus 11. Advice for Students
In this *mini* bonus episode, Bernie and David Janka, our guest from episode 11, share the advice they give students when asked about classes, careers, and first jobs.
Bernie likes to tell students that planning often doesn’t work — life is full of chance and change — and to embrace it. David encourages students to explore, enjoy the detours, and turn “mistakes” (aka learnings...) into part of their story.
Together, their wisdom: expect the unexpected, and enjoy the voyage of discovery.
01:08 Bernie: Logic doesn’t matter, embrace change
01:52 David: Exploration over perfection
02:44 The value of misinterpretation and detours
04:00 Connecting your diverse interests into a story
04:23 Krista’s wrap-up: enjoy the voyage, welcome the unexpected
Follow us on Instagram @yelloweyedcatspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/yelloweyedcatspodcast) for fun extras.
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson
Producer: Krista Donaldson
20 Aug 2025
11. Life is a C***shoot
In this (final official!) episode, Bernie reflects on how the most meaningful turns in life often come from chance rather than careful planning. He shares his own serendipitous journey to becoming a professor at Stanford (involving a case of two professors named Arnold), his unexpected entry into robotics, how a single phone call led to his pioneering work in design —and why saying “yes” at the right time matters.
We’re joined by David Janka, a physician-turned-designer and faculty member at Stanford’s d.school. David opens up about leaving medicine to explore design, how the Designer in Society class helped him navigate that transition, and why creating a physical project in the class, a gift for friends, became a pivotal part of his journey.
Together, we explore questions of work, purpose, and meaning, with a little help from Gandhi and E.F. Schumacher.
00:00 Life is a c***shoot: accidents that shape our paths
01:00 Bernie on chance and opportunity
02:34 The wrong Arnold: how Bernie got to Stanford
06:13 A phone call that led to robotics
07:10 Another call that sparked Designer in Society
09:03 Are we the type of people who say yes or no?
10:00 The blessing (and curse) of work
12:53 The “Who am I?” exercise
17:30 Introducing David Janka
21:16 David’s Designer in Society project
28:25 Serendipity, careers, and saying yes
30:29 Bernie’s Burning Man camp
Follow us on Instagram: @yelloweyedcatspodcast to see extras from this episode, like David's atrium staircase.
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson; Producer: Krista Donaldson
6 Aug 2025
10. Projection and other useful tools
In this episode, Bernie explores how learning from others helps us learn about ourselves, especially when we are seeking assistance. From mantras collected from colleagues ("We don't have enough time to hurry" and “All design is redesign”) to the powerful tool of projection, Bernie offers tools to help us navigate interactions, teamwork, and life.
We're joined by Wendy Ju, a leading expert in human-computer interaction and professor at Cornell Tech. Wendy shares her journey from being rejected by Bernie when she wanted to take ‘The Designer in Society’ as an undergrad to later co-teaching a class with him. She discusses how their teaching team's productive conflicts became powerful learning moments, as well as some of the class’s best-known – and in one case, infamous – projects.
We also cover the curse of networking, mini-mentoring, and managing conflict on a team. We hope you’ll join us!
00:00 Bernie's mantras from colleagues: "We don't have enough time to hurry"
01:33 The projection exercise explained
07:58 The problem with the Myer-Briggs and similar tests
10:18 When conflict arises on teams
13:21 Mini-mentoring vs. formal mentorship
15:56 The curse of networking
17:40 Introducing Wendy Ju
20:39 Wendy's journey from rejected undergraduate to co-instructor of Transformative Design
22:17 (In)famous class projects: Juul and Juntos
23:43 Teaching team dynamics and productive conflict
24:32 The power of mantras and Wendy’s "Time passes for free"
30:49 Bernie's hot tub projection revelation
Follow us on Instagram: @yelloweyedcatspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/yelloweyedcatspodcast/?hl=en) to see extras from this episode!
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson; Producer: Krista Donaldson
23 Jul 2025
9. We're all in this together
In this episode, we talk about the importance of shared humanity within teams or groups. Bernie explains his original, and often awkward, icebreaker “When was the last time you…” and explains how Stanford's Design Group operated without a traditional leader for over 40 years.
From learning names with gestures to the “I like… I wish…” way of giving feedback, we explore Bernie's version of "radical collaboration" and why something as simple as where you sit can change your experience.
We're joined by Ade Mabogunje, longtime Stanford researcher, who shares arriving at Stanford from Nigeria and experiencing Bernie's "disorientation weekend"—which involved running through ponds and rolling in grass with professors. Plus, the story of the paper boat project that revealed an unexpected truth about persistence versus brilliance.
00:00 "When was the last time you..." icebreaker
04:04 The story behind Bernie's community-minded approach
05:14: Gestures to learn others’ names
06:32 Stanford's Design Group's evolution to become leaderless for 40+ years
09:26 Bill Moggridge has thoughts on Bernie’s PPT slides
13:14 "I like and I wish" for giving feedback
15:21 The physical power demonstration: making colleagues "taller" or "shorter"
16:28 Why where you sit affects your influence
20:12 Introducing Ade Mabogunje
21:41 Disorientation weekend
24:28 The paper boat project and the importance of stick-to-it-ness
27:21 Silicon Valley culture
30:16 Bernie on competition vs. cooperation
30:29 Bernie proves Jim Fadiman (the father of microdosing) wrong
Follow us on Instagram: @yelloweyedcatspodcast to see extras - we have a video of those paper boats!
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson; Producer: Krista Donaldson
9 Jul 2025
8. Who are you really?
Bernie explores one of his most liberating concepts: your self-image is malleable. From a show business manager who found it "really hurt" to be nice, to students writing down "10 things you would never do" and then doing them, this episode considers how our perceptions of ourselves can both limit and liberate us.
We're joined by Jeff Brown, an engineer who transformed from a by-the-book government kid to a Silicon Valley CEO and climate entrepreneur. Jeff shares how Bernie's class gave him the confidence to see engineering as a superpower, and how his class project helped him manage a challenging health problem.
We also talk about “The House Fantasy” (Episode 8a. bonus) and Bernie also walks us through his "truth process" (Episode 8b. bonus)—a powerful exercise for examining the stories we tell ourselves and making problems “disappear” through radical honesty.
00:00 Bernie's philosophy: Your self-image is malleable
00:30 The show business lawyer who was "nasty" by design
02:54 Exercise: Write down 10 things you would never do... then do them
06:04 Where self-images come from
09:23 The truth process: Telling yourself what really is
13:23 Disappearing your problems
15:52 Introducing Jeff Brown
19:36 Using engineering as a "superpower for good"
21:34 Jeff's class project of self-healing
23:00 The House Fantasy visualization
26:01 Bernie at 92: "I still don't know what I'm gonna do when I grow up"
27:51 Bernie’s self-image
Follow us on Instagram: @yelloweyedcatspodcast to see more about Jeff's journey and other references from our podcast.
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson; Producer: Krista Donaldson
2 Jul 2025
Bonus 8B. The Truth Process
Bernie Roth guides listeners through "The Truth Process," a guided imagery exercise designed to help tackle struggles and release unnecessary burdens.
2 Jul 2025
Bonus 8A. The House Fantasy
Bernie Roth leads listeners through "The House Fantasy" exercise, utilizing a home as a metaphor for self-discovery and offering a creative path to deeper self-awareness.
25 Jun 2025
7. Bernie is with 'And'
Bernie Roth and Allison Okamura explore how the words people choose shape reality, focusing on the empowering impact of using "and" instead of "but" in this interview episode.
11 Jun 2025
6. You’re solving the wrong problem (aka Reframing)
Bernie Roth and guests Sheila Wang and Harrison Wang discuss how reframing problems unlocks new solutions, sharing personal stories and practical tools for asking better questions in this interview episode.
4 Jun 2025
5. Bernie's Reading List
Bernie Roth and Özgür Eris discuss the influential reading list for Roth's 'The Designer in Society' course, exploring texts from sociology to sci-fi that examine the human experience, in this interview episode.
28 May 2025
4. You give things meaning
Professor Bernie Roth and Professor Sheri Sheppard discuss the empowering idea that individuals assign meaning to things, exploring how this shapes relationships, careers, and daily tasks in this interview.
21 May 2025
3. Trying versus Doing
What if sometimes ‘trying’ is better than doing? This week, Bernie makes the case for why the world and Yoda need to rethink ‘try.’ We discuss why ‘doing’ is still important, especially when it matters—we just need to be honest about the difference.
We’re joined in this episode by Steve Myers who shares his roller coaster journey of founding and running an engineering consulting company after graduating. He speaks to how the ‘trying vs. doing’ mentality propelled him through it all.
00:00 Introduction to Trying vs. Doing
00:39 Bernie goes to Skywalker Ranch
01:45 Bernie’s classroom demo of Trying vs. Doing
05:03 Bernie getting tickets at the Roxie
08:19 Bernie and Krista’s trip to Texas
10:10 A poem and persistence pays off
11:32 The lamppost story and the swimmer
15:26 Steve’s introduction
27:03 Exercise: Trying vs. Doing aka The first step
29:46 Bernie on trying to ski
Follow us on Instagram: @yelloweyedcats (https://www.instagram.com/yelloweyedcatspodcast) to see Steve, Yoda, and other references from our podcast.
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson; Producer: Krista Donaldson
14 May 2025
2. Project of your Life
“Pipe dreams are okay, but they really get in the way of stuff.” — Professor Bernie Roth
Stanford’s The Designer in Society isn’t your typical academic course — and Bernie’s assigned project wasn’t your typical assignment. It was a bold challenge to stop thinking, start doing.
In this episode, we’re joined by former student Janay Smith, who shares how that experience assisted her in facing later setbacks or as she puts it: when she got “stuck with a wet fish in my face”. Her biggest lesson from learning and occasionally sparring with Bernie? “Everything in life is a choice.”
Note: This episode includes swear words and some emotionally intense stories. Listener discretion advised.
00:16 Intro
01:27 Bernie’s guidelines for the student projects
02:47 Bernie-ism: Stop Thinking, Start Doing
09:25 Fooling yourself
10:29 Janay’s introduction
18:00 Janay’s project
20:05 “ That project made me schedule an attack for fear. This is the day I'm going to attack my fear.”
28:09 A turning point with Janay’s parents, Jock Smith and Yvette Smiley Smith, CPA
32:55: “Everything is a choice”
37:33 Bernie gives project instructions for everyone
39:45 The student whose project didn’t work…
43:16 Janay has some thoughts on blow molds
More on Janay!
YouTube: J Smiles Comedy (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjMn9kCS57588fAwIoZx1_w)
Podcast: Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles (https://www.parentingup.com/): Alzheimer's is heavy, we don't have to be. All caregivers are welcome to snuggle up, Parent Up!
Instagram: @jsmilescomedy (https://www.instagram.com/jsmilescomedy), @parentingup (https://www.instagram.com/parentingup)
Follow us on Instagram: @yelloweyedcats (https://www.instagram.com/yelloweyedcatspodcast) to see our amazing guests like Janay, and the Burning Man project that Bernie references in this episode.
7 May 2025
1. Reasons are Bull****
Bernie talks about one of his most provocative ideas: Reasons are bull****, explaining that they often serve as excuses. Dropping them can unlock clarity and greater self-awareness, and don't we all need that? We also hear how being chronically late led to a personal epiphany—and a lasting habit shift.
Plus, Bernie reveals the story behind the podcast’s name: a child spotting a cat with yellow eyes became a metaphor for worldview shifts.
00:00 Intro to Yellow Eyed Cats
01:05 Bernie's Famous Lesson: Reasons Are Bullshit
03:39 Exercise: That’s a goooood reason
05:43 The Epiphany of Being Late
11:21 Exploring Free Will and Responsibility
16:31 The Story Behind Yellow Eyed Cat
17: 52 Exercise: I used to think … Now I think ….
18:52 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
19:31 How to get your own free Reasons are Bull**** sticker!
For extras, check out our instagram: @yelloweyedcatspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/yelloweyedcatspodcast)
Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson; Producer: Krista Donaldson
3 May 2025
Trailer | Yellow-Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth
Welcome to Yellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth, a podcast about seeing the world differently—and doing something about it.
Join co-hosts Stanford professor Bernie Roth and former student Krista Donaldson in this limited series inspired by Bernie’s iconic class, The Designer in Society. Listen in as Bernie challenges us to rewire how we think, live, and lead.
Whether you're stuck, seeking, or simply curious, Yellow Eyed Cats will help you spot the obstacles and learn how to walk around them - like a lamppost. (You’ll get that reference if you listen to this trailer…)
Listen, laugh, and rethink what’s possible—with us.
Yellow-Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth is available wherever you get your podcasts starting on 7 May 2025. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!
You can also find us on instagram at @yelloweyedcatspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/yelloweyedcatspodcast).
Who has been a guest on Yellow Eyed Cats with Bernie Roth
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sheila Wang
Harrison Wang
Sheri Sheppard
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
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Quality
52
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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