CIIS Public Programs
Episodes
Ellen Ullman: Life in Code
07 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, author and coder Ellen Ullman is joined in conversation by CIIS writing professor, Carolyn Cooke, to explore the transformation of so...
Leslie Berlin and Mitch Altman: How Counterculture Built Silicon Valley
31 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, historian and author Leslie Berlin is joined in conversation by hacker and inventor Mitch Altman to explore how hippies and hackers b...
Nikki Mirghafori and Steve Omohundro: AI and Karma
25 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Artificial Intelligence scientist and buddhist teacher Nikki Mirghafori and computer scientist Steve Omohundro discuss how the concep...
Alexis Okeowo: Fighting Extremism in Africa
18 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Alexis Okeowo, a writer for the New Yorker, is joined in conversation by Mimi Lok from Voice of Witness to discuss the stories of ordinary people figh...
Roopa Vasudevan: Technology as Anthropology
10 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, artist, creative coder, and researcher, Roopa Vasudevan explores what technology and data can teach us about ourselves. This event wa...
Khizr Khan: On Being American
03 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who challenged Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, is joined by CIIS faculty May Elawar for a conversation about w...
Liz Beaven: Education For A New World
21 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, integral teaching expert and CIIS Provost Liz Beaven shares ideas for changes to traditional education that can better prepare our ch...
Magdalena Yesil: Smart Women In The New Economy
14 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Pioneering Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor Magdalena Yesil came to the United States in 1976 with two suitcases and $43, unaware of the chall...
Irvin D. Yalom: A Psychiatrist's Life
07 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Yalom is joined in a conversation with CIIS core faculty Barbara Morrill about his life, his work, and the profound power of self...
Layli Long Soldier: A Poetic Response To The US Government
30 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join San Francisco poet Brynn Saito for a conversation with Layli Long Soldier about her journey creating her latest collection of poetry WHEREAS, wh...
Sasha Abramsky: Fear In American Life
16 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist and author Sasha Abramsky is joined by CIIS professor Andrej Grubacic in this conversation about America's most dangerous epidemic: irratio...
Matthew Walker: Why We Sleep
09 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation with CIIS professor Rachael Vaughan, award-winning neuroscientist Matthew Walker reveals his groundbreaking exploration of sleep,...
Zoë Quinn: Life After Gamergate
02 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Indie game developer turned social activist Zoë Quinn is joined by CIIS faculty Zara Zimbardo for a rare public conversation about her experience at ...
Andrej Grubacic: The Hidden History Of Capitalism
26 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, CIIS faculty Andrej Grubacic uncovers the relatively unknown history of exiles and activists and their impact on the past and future...
Robert Wright: Why Buddhism is True
19 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation with Steven Tierney, Professor of Community Mental at CIIS, Pulitzer Prize finalist Robert Wright shares his journey exploring ps...
Nadya Tolokno: Resistance and Pussy Riot
05 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokno is joined by artist and activist Jadelynn Stahl for a conversation about how to triumph in the new political and soci...
Sean Kelly, Sam Mickey, Adam Robbert, and Kat Snow: Nature, Culture, and Knowledge
28 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Authors Sean Kelly, Sam Mickey, and Adam Robbert are joined by public radio journalist and CIIS grad Kat Snow in a conversation about ecology as a con...
Brewster Khale: Internet and Impermanence
21 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features Brewster Kahle, Digital Librarian and founder of the Internet Archive, and Wikimedia Foundation Creative Director Heather Walls ...
David George Haskell: The Songs Of Trees
14 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning author and scholar David George Haskell is joined by CIIS professor Elizabeth Allison for a conversation about nature's most magnificent...
Richard Tarnas: The Summer Of Love And The Stars
07 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Tarnas, founding director of the graduate program in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness at CIIS, shares historical and present day corre...
Jo Piazza: How To Be Married
31 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Author and journalist Jo Piazza is joined in conversation by CIIS professor Nicolle Zapien to explore wedding and marriage rituals, customs, and tradi...
Alex Reben and Mikey Siegel: AI and Ethics
24 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, robotics engineer turned consciousness hacker Mikey Siegel is joined in conversation by Alexander Reben, an artist and roboticist. Th...
Shefali Tsabary: Conscious Parenting
09 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Author and psychologist Shefali Tsabary is joined in conversation by Dean of Alumni Richard Buggs to explore the ways we unconsciously pass on psychol...
Christine Brooks: The Science of Friendship
28 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, CIIS faculty Christine Brooks examines how nurturing our social networks increases our health and wellbeing. This talk was part of th...
Gabor Maté: Mind Body Health
14 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Author and physician Gabor Maté is joined in conversation by CIIS Professor Meg Jordan to explore his life and work in trauma and addiction.
Amina Khan: Adapting Nature's Designs
24 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Science journalist Amina Khan is joined in conversation by curator Arianne Gelardin to discuss what nature can teach us about sustainable technology a...
Tyler Knott Gregson: Poetry and Process
10 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Poet and author Tyler Knott Gregson is joined in conversation by CIIS’s Director of the Center for Writing and Scholarship Brynn Saito to discuss po...
Harriet Lerner: On Apologies
03 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Author and psychologist Harriet Lerner is joined in conversation by CIIS faculty member Barbara Morrill to explore what makes a good apology, and why ...
Baratunde Thurston: Comedy and Conversation
26 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Baratunde Thurston of The Onion and The Daily Show is joined in conversation by actor and director Rotimi Agbabiaka to discuss comedy, race, technolog...
Danielle Drake: Social Change Through Expressive Arts
19 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS faculty member and Expressive Arts Therapist Danielle Drake examines how communities who engage in creative processes can inspire social change. ...
Kate Levinson: Money and Gender
12 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Author and therapist Kate Levinson is joined in conversation with CIIS’s Kelly Kelly to discuss the intersection of money, business, and gender.
Jessica Zitter: A Better Path to the End of Life
05 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, ICU doctor and palliative care expert Dr. Jessica Zitter is joined in conversation by CIIS Dean of Alumni Richard Buggs to discuss he...
Acharya Shunya: Fundamentals of Ayurveda
29 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Spiritual teacher and Vedic scholar Acharya Shunya is joined in conversation by CIIS Professor Debashish Banerji to discuss health and consciousness t...
Natalie Metz: The Future for Psychedelics
22 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS’s Natalie Metz explores the potential that psychedelics hold for the future of medicine.
Adyashanti: Transpersonal Enlightenment
15 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Spiritual teacher and author Adyashanti discusses his belief that there are two spiritual instincts that reside deep within everyone.
Alfonso Montuori: The Future of Creativity
09 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS Professor and creativity researcher Alfonso Montuori shares his 25 years of explorations in the field, illustrating the emerging face of the new ...
Kristin Neff: The Power of Self Compassion
01 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Self compassion researcher Kristin Neff joins CIIS faculty Michael Klein to examine how self compassion can lower anxiety and depression, and support ...
Leslie Hill and Helen Paris: Curious
15 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Co-founders of the performance company Curious, Leslie Hill and Helen Paris, are joined in conversation by CIIS Visiting Faculty Ryan Tacata to talk a...
David Levy: On Mindful Technology
08 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Author and researcher David Levy joins CIIS Professor Sergio Rodriguez-Castillo to explore how we might move between the "fast world" of tech and the ...
Melissa Nelson: Listen to the Land
02 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Indigenous scholar and activist Melissa Nelson and Zen teacher Wendy Johnson discuss ecological knowledge and how to listen to the land.
Zahra Noorbakhsh: Fighting Islamophobia with Humor
25 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian, writer, and actress Zahra Noorbakhsh is joined by CIIS faculty member Zara Zimbardo for a conversation that explores being Muslim in America...
Mikey Siegel and Karla Suomala: Technology and Spirituality
18 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Karla Suomala, a researcher and former Professor of Religion and Mikey Siegel, a robotics engineer turned consciousness hacker, discuss the intersecti...
Roshi Joan Halifax: Being with Dying
11 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Zen priest, author, and pioneer in the field of end-of-life care Roshi Joan Halifax is joined in conversation by Brenda Salgado about death and dying,...
Zara Zimbardo: What Can We Learn from Zombies?
21 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS faculty Zara Zimbardo explores our enduring interest in zombies, and examines what this increasingly normalized pop culture obsession points to. ...
Lily Siegel and Pierre-François: Inherited Memory in Art
14 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Curators from The Contemporary Jewish Museum Lily Siegel and Pierre-François talk about From Generation to Generation - Inherited Memory and Contempo...
Dr. Christopher Bache: My Psychedelic Journey
09 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author and Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Christopher Bache discusses his twenty year long regimen of psychedelic exploration and therapy with CII...
Eduardo Duran: Healing the Soul Wound
02 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist and author Eduardo Duran is joined in conversation by CIIS student Natalie Bell to discuss the legacy of historical trauma for Native Ame...
Sean San José: Ghosts in the Theatre
17 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre director Sean San José is joined in conversation by CIIS faculty and performance maker Erika Chong Shuch about ghosts, spirituality, and memo...
Frank Warren: A Night of PostSecrets
09 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Frank Warren, the creator of the wildly popular website, PostSecret, talks about how he holds the over one million secrets he has received in the past...
Nick Walker: Neurodiversity and Creativity
03 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
One of the leading thinkers in the emergent field of neurodiversity, CIIS faculty member Nick Walker, discusses the benefits of a more neurodiverse wo...
Guillermo Gómez-Peña: The GGGPS
26 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Chicano performance artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña is joined by author and performer Larry Bogad for this performative conversation, GGGPS: The Guiller...
Meg Jordan: New Discoveries in Health Science
19 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS Professor Meg Jordan explores some of the most compelling new ideas in health from the world of science. This talk was part of the Big Ideas at C...
Deepak Chopra: Towards a Higher Health
13 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Alternative medicine pioneer Deepak Chopra explores the question of how consciousness conceives and constructs the physical universe.
Alzak Amlani: Hearing the Soul
06 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS Professor and psychologist Alzak Amlani examines the benefits of developing the soul. This talk is part of our Big Ideas at CIIS series.
Dan Siegel: A Journey into the Heart of Being Human
28 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Clinical psychologist and interpersonal neurobiology expert Dr Dan Siegel is joined in conversation by Rick Hanson to take a deep dive into the myster...
Sil Lai Abrams: A Search for Racial Identity
22 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author and activist Sil Lai Abrams reads from her new memoir, Black Lotus, and is joined in conversation by CIIS’s Laura Reddick.
Ericka Huggins: Black Panthers, Activism, and Spiritual Practice
15 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Civil rights activist, former Black Panther leader, and educator Ericka Huggins is joined in conversation by CIIS professor and restorative justice ex...
Paul Stamets: Mushrooms and the Mycology of Consciousness
07 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mycologist Paul Stamets examines how mushrooms can help the health of people and the planet.
Stuart Mangrum: The Psychogeography of Burning Man
31 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
One of the early organizers of Burning Man, Stuart Mangrum, discusses the psychogeography of the festival.
Cat Brooks and Manolia Charlotin: Women, Media, and Activism
28 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Cat Brooks of San Francisco’s Anti Police-Terror Project is joined in conversation by journalist Manolia Charlotin of The Media Consortium to discus...
Richard Rodriguez: This Writing Life
14 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Peabody Award-winning author Richard Rodriguez is joined in conversation by CIIS writing professor Carolyn Cook for a discussion on writing and the w...
Mark Wolynn: It Didn’t Start With You
20 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Intergenerational trauma expert Mark Wolynn is joined in conversation by Richard Buggs, CIIS Dean of Alumni, to discuss how inherited family trauma sh...
Brian Swimme: Why We Study the Universe
04 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS Professor Brian Swimme explores why trying to make sense of the universe is one of the oldest projects around and how these questions lead us to ...
Joanna Macy: A Life of Spirit in Action
25 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author, teacher, and ecophilosopher Joanna Macy is known the world over for her workshops for social and environmental activists. She's joined in conv...
Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths: Algorithms to Live By
07 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The authors of Algorithms to Live By, Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths, are joined in conversation by CIIS President Joseph Subbiondo to explore how ...
Carolyn Cooke: What Is Literature For?
28 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS Professor and author Carolyn Cooke explores reading and writing as important acts of consciousness. This talk is part of our Big Ideas at CIIS se...
Kal Spelletich and Jerry Kaplan: Artificial Intelligence and Art
19 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jerry Kaplan, a computer scientist and AI expert talks with Kal Spelletich, an artist who works with robotics about how humans might leverage this eme...
Craig Chalquist: Myth in the News
10 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS professor Craig Chalquist explores how myths jump out of the myth books and into our lives, inhabiting current events, our language, politics, an...
Jake Orlowitz: Inside Wikipedia
02 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The head of Wikipedia’s library, Jake Orlowitz, in conversation with Dr Matt Segall about how Wikipedia keeps it’s vast and complicated platform r...
Reggie Ray: Buddhism, Trauma, and Healing
28 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
American Buddhist scholar Reggie Ray on how trauma can be an opportunity for spiritual growth.
Jeff Chang: On Race in America
12 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author and hip hop journalist Jeff Chang in conversation with novelist and poet Adam Mansbach on the cultural history - and future - of race in Americ...
Michelle Glowa: Eat Like it Matters
10 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
CIIS professor Michelle Glowa talks about how our food choices affect the world, and what we can do to cultivate more just and sustainable food system...
Sobonfu Somé: Grieving and Ritual
02 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author and activist Sobonfu Somé on the importance of grieving and ritual.
Theresa Sparks: Advocating for Transgender Rights
23 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Transgender activist and pioneer Theresa Sparks in conversation with transgender CIIS professor, Dr. Jamison Green.
Cheryl Strayed: An Evening with Dear Sugar
16 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author Cheryl Strayed talks to Carolyn Cooke about her writing style, her work as Dear Sugar, and her best selling book, Wild.
Jezebel Delilah X: How Literature and Theatre Saved My Life
04 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The story of Jezebel Delilah X—a self professed "quirky, queer, black girl from South Central LA” and how literature and theatre saved her life. ...
Brant Cortright: Building A Better Brain
03 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author and Professor of Psychology at CIIS, Dr. Brant Cortright, talks about his work at the cutting edge of neuroscience, clinical psychology, and br...
Tony Bossis: Psychedelic Drug Therapy
31 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist and researcher at NYU, Doctor Tony Bossis, reviews his work as part of the recent renaissance of psychedelic research.
Cornel West: The Burden Carried by African American Men
28 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
One of America's most provocative public intellectuals, Dr. Cornel West, whose writing weaves together the traditions of the Black Baptist Church, soc...
Gabor Maté: The Mind/Body Connection
29 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Physician and award winning author, Dr Gabor Mate, discusses his research at the intersection of addiction, science, psychology, and compassion