Best Light S Monarch Podcasts (2025)

1
The Art of Kintsugi Ceramics: Naoko Fukumaru on Making What’s Broken Beautiful 35:32

2M ago35:32

35:32

Sometimes healing doesn't mean trying to erase the past, but honoring it — cracks and all. In this episode, artist Naoko Fukumaru shares her deeply personal story of transformation through kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery or ceramics with lacquer and gold or silver powder to highlight the fractures and seams. She and host Bria…

1
From Medieval Love Songs to Modern Hip-Hop: Marisa Galvez on the Power of Poetry 31:35

2M ago31:35

31:35

What do medieval troubadours and modern rappers have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, Stanford professor of French and Italian, Marisa Galvez joins Brian Lowery to explore how poetry—whether in 12th-century love songs or hip-hop lyrics—has long been a way to express love, power, or identity. Together they discuss how lyrical t…

1
From Lipstick to Loons: Jennifer Sullivan’s Journey into Birding 31:25

3M ago31:25

31:25

Host Brian Lowery talks with journalist Jennifer Sullivan about the parallels between beauty and birding. As someone who has spent years writing about appearance and self-perception, Jenn discovered that watching birds offered a different kind of reflection—one that quiets the mind and expands our sense of place in the world. She and Brian discuss …

1
Flight of the Monarchs: Jaime Rojo on Beauty and Conservation 31:01

3M ago31:01

31:01

National Geographic photographer and conservationist Jaime Rojo has spent decades capturing the beauty and fragility of the monarch butterfly. Their epic migration is one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles, but their survival is under threat. In this episode, Jaime shares how his passion for photography and conservation led him to document th…

1
Spilling the Tea on Cross Culture Comedy: Jesse Appell’s Journey in China 29:42

4M ago29:42

29:42

In this episode, comedian and tea enthusiast Jesse Appell of Jesse's Teahouse takes us on a journey from studying Chinese comedy to building an online tea business. He shares how navigating different cultures shaped his perspective on laughter, authenticity, and community. From mastering traditional Chinese cross-talk comedy to reinventing himself …

1
Music, Movement, and Meaning: Hanging Out with DJ Cosmo 33:02

4M ago33:02

33:02

In this episode of Know What You See, Brian Lowery talks with DJ Colleen "Cosmo" Murphy, an acclaimed broadcaster, DJ, and founder of Classic Album Sundays. Colleen shares her journey from a high school radio station to becoming a global curator of transformative musical experiences. Whether it's finding community through the airwaves, or the share…

1
Bonus: "Wisdom and Practice" with Simran Jeet Singh 28:15

5M ago28:15

28:15

Here’s another podcast we think you’ll like. It's called "Wisdom and Practice" and it’s hosted by one of Brian Lowry's guests this season, Simran Jeet Singh. Wisdom & Practice uncovers what insights we can gain from our ancient and modern traditions. Simran explores the different means of practice his guests have taken to discover new awareness of …

1
Wine and Chocolate: Stories and Craft with Chris Gaither and Todd Masonis 36:17

5M ago36:17

36:17

Wine and chocolate may seem like simple pleasures, but for people like master sommelier Chris Gaither and Dandelion Chocolates co-founder Todd Masonis, they’re so much more. Chris sees wine as a way to bring people together to share stories and get in touch with the land and culture. Todd’s approach to chocolate focuses on traditional origins and f…

1
A Guiding Light: Simran Jeet Singh on Faith and Practice 28:02

6M ago28:02

28:02

In this episode of Know What You See, Brian Lowery talks with with Simran Jeet Singh, professor, author, and host of the podcast, Wisdom and Practice, to explore the intersection of faith, purpose, and daily life. Simran shares how his Sikh faith guides his journey toward self-improvement, happiness, and meaningful community connections. Together, …

1
BONUS: What's Ray Saying? 30:08

6M ago30:08

30:08

On a recent episode of Know What You See, Brian had a conversation with master storyteller, Dr. Ray Christian. Ray’s stories have appeared on The Moth, RISK!, and Snap Judgment but he’s not just a storyteller. Ray is also a historian, father, and combat veteran from the rural South, who finds himself floating between life in academia, public speaki…

1
From the Frontlines to Behind the Mic: Dr. Ray Christian on Storytelling 30:08

6M ago30:08

30:08

What do the stories we tell say about who we are? In this episode of Know What You See, host Brian Lowery sits down with Dr. Ray Christian—storyteller, educator, ten-time Moth Story Slam champion, and host of the award-winning podcast What's Ray Saying? —to explore how the narratives we share, and the ones we leave out, shape our understanding of o…

1
Know What You See Season 4 Trailer 3:28

6M ago3:28

3:28

On Know What You See, host Brian Lowery dives into a single, sweeping question: "What's the point?" Why do people dedicate so much of themselves to pursuits like music, wine, comedy, or storytelling? Through engaging conversations with enthusiasts from diverse fields, this season explores the reasons behind our passions and what they reveal about u…

1
KWYS Short: What's the point of having kids? 3:08

8M ago3:08

3:08

In this Know What You See short, Brian probes the real reasons for having kids and why biological family is so important to us.By Brian S. Lowery

1
KWYS Short: What's the point of picking teams? 3:33

9M ago3:33

3:33

In this Know What You See short, Brian reflects on how the strategy of selection determines our sense of self worth .By Brian S. Lowery

1
KWYS Short: What's the point of travel? 3:11

10M ago3:11

3:11

In this Know What You See short, Brian considers why being thoughtful about travel can help us get the most out of it. Why do you travel? Leave a message with your thoughts at brianloweryphd.com/contact. Stay tuned for new episodes of Know What You See coming this fall and follow @knowwhatyouseepod on Instagram.…

1
Transforming Life Through Death 32:21

1y ago32:21

32:21

We’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 p…

1
Awe: a Pathway to Meaning 29:11

1y ago29:11

29:11

In 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 t…

1
Is Free Will Real? 36:47

1y ago36:47

36:47

We 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 epis…

1
Blurring the Boundaries of Race 39:19

1y ago39:19

39:19

Race 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…

1
Society Self and Gender 36:33

1+ y ago36:33

36:33

For 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 abou…

1
Watching Work…from Home 26:51

1+ y ago26:51

26:51

With 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 dra…

1
Finding Home 37:55

1+ y ago37:55

37:55

What 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…

1
The Endless Swipe For Love 35:45

1+ y ago35:45

35:45

A 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 n…

1
Different Friends at Different Times 37:33

1+ y ago37:33

37:33

This 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 hav…

1
Bonus: How Others Define Us from Think Fast, Talk Smart 15:16

2y ago15:16

15:16

Here’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 acr…

1
Bonus: Brian Lowery on the Talk Nerdy Podcast with Cara Santa Maria 1:14:09

2y ago1:14:09

1:14:09

Cara 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 chec…

1
Worked to Death 34:11

2y ago34:11

34:11

Whether 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 h…

1
Learning What’s Next 31:08

2+ y ago31:08

31:08

Today, 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 care…

1
Work on the Move 31:02

2+ y ago31:02

31:02

This 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…

1
The Great (re-)Balance 28:07

2+ y ago28:07

28:07

The 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 Resigna…

1
Bonus: Finding your self 9:22

2+ y ago9:22

9:22

This 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 Kenn…

1
Minding the Generation Gap 35:34

2+ y ago35:34

35:34

In 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 career…

1
When The Side Hustle Becomes THE Hustle 31:55

3y ago31:55

31:55

In 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 a…

1
How Do We Make "Work from Home" Work? 31:09

3y ago31:09

31:09

The 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…

1
Rediscovering Worker Power 43:37

3y ago43:37

43:37

From 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 Rebe…

1
Unrest at Work 20:45

3y ago20:45

20:45

Today, 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 wil…

1
Season 2 of Know What You See 0:49

3y ago0:49

0:49

The 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 g…

1
Race at Work 38:40

3y ago38:40

38:40

What’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 episod…

1
There's No Place like House 44:40

3y ago44:40

44:40

The 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 Washin…

1
Who Do You Think You're Talking To? 38:00

3+ y ago38:00

38:00

Our 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 ter…

1
The Business of Food and Identity 32:25

3+ y ago32:25

32:25

Selling 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…

1
Who Owns Food? 27:01

3+ y ago27:01

27:01

What 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 authentici…

1
Identity-Driven Design 35:51

3+ y ago35:51

35:51

Design 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 arti…

1
The Blacker the Hero, the Darker the Truth 29:42

3+ y ago29:42

29:42

This 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…

1
They Call Them Bruce 32:35

3+ y ago32:35

32:35

After 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-American…

1
The Cost of Flying High 30:17

3+ y ago30:17

30:17

What 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 e…

1
Coloring Public Spaces 27:45

3+ y ago27:45

27:45

Many 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…

1
Welcome to Know What You See with Brian Lowery 1:59

4y ago1:59

1:59

Whether 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…

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Light S Monarch Podcasts

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