The Cabrera Lab Podcast

#113: The Purpose Of the System Is What It Does

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore a powerful systems thinking principle: the purpose of a system is what it ...

#112: Think It Through: How to Break Big Changes Into Manageable Parts

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code CHANGE20 — become a systems thinker today!In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Co...

#111: Stress Is a Systems Problem (Not Just an Emotional One)

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code STRESS20 — become a systems thinker today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University ...

#110: How to Train Your Brain to Think Systemically

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code MODEL20 — become a systems thinker today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University a...

#109: Think It Through: How to Face a Reality You Don’t Want

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code REALITY20 — become a scientist today!In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell...

#108: Stop Believing Frameworks That Haven’t Been Tested

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code VALID20 — become a scientist today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack ...

#107: Love Is a Behavior, Not a Feeling

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code LOVE20 — start loving reality today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack...

#106: Passive-Aggression Isn’t Passive—It’s Just Dishonest

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code INTEGRITY20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornel...

#105: Think It Through: Helping Others See What They’re Missing

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code SIMPLE20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cab...

#104: It’s Not Too Much Information—It’s Too Little Organization

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University tackle a problem nearly everyone feels but few can name: constant overwhelm in a w...

#103: Think It Through: When You Know What to Do—but Don’t Do It

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code THINKING20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura C...

#102: Mental Fitness Explained: Why Intelligence Is More Than IQ

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code MOTIVATION20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Corne...

#101: Think It Through: The Negative Inner Voice That’s Holding You Back

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code MENTALFITNESS20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and La...

#100: The Top 10 Systems Thinking Lessons from 100 Episodes

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code 20FOR100 — start building your mental fitness today!In this special milestone episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Ca...

Episode #99: How to Reflect the Right Way Using Systems Thinking

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code REFLECT20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell ...

#98: Think It Through: Why Having the “Perfect Holiday” Is the Fastest Way to Ruin It

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code HOLIDAY20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this holiday edition of Think It Through, Drs. Derek a...

#97: What Can Systems Thinkers Do That Others Can’t?

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code SYSTEMS20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell ...

#96: Think It Through: The Hidden Cost of Always Doing What You’re Told

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 20% off any STSI course with code THINKITTHROUGH20 — start building your mental fitness today!In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and L...

#95: Think It Through: Teaching Your Kids to Love Reality

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 25% off any STSI course with code THANKS25 - Happy Thanksgiving!In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell Universi...

#94: Fast. Right. Adaptive. The Power of Practicing Is/Is Not List

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 15% off any STSI course with code THINK15 — start training your brain today!In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University ...

#93: O-Based Education: How to Build Smarter, Freer, More Adaptive Humans

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get 15% off any systems thinking course with code ST-15 - become a professional systems thinker today: https://www.stsi.pro/category/credentialIn this...

#92: Think It Through: The Feedback You Don’t Want Is the Feedback You Need

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack one of life’s most universal challenges: how to take fee...

#91: From Deming to Donella: Rating the Top Systems Thinking Quotes

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take a rapid-fire tour through some of the most famous systems thinking quotes fro...

#90: Think it Through: Stop Arguing Perspectives, Start Solving Systems

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University tackle two everyday problems that reveal the hidden power of syst...

#89: Think It Through: Boundaries, Guilt, and Getting Your Time Back

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University help a listener untangle a familiar problem: saying yes to everything and ending u...

#88: Think It Through: Parenting, Culture, and Mental Models

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this practical episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University show how the same underlying mental structures shape both family life an...

#87: Snake Oil, Swamps, and Systems Thinking

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take a wrecking ball to the confusion surrounding systems thinking. Whether you’...

#86: Teach Your Kids to Think: The Most Important Parenting Skill

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University answer a simple but urgent question from a parent: “Can you teach systems thinki...

#85: Love, Marriage, and Mental Models: Systems Thinking in Relationships

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do two people work together, parent together, and live together every day without driving each other nuts?In this personal and powerful episode, D...

#84: Why Our Schools are Failing (And How to Fix Them with Systems Thinking)

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University confront a hard truth: our schools are failing because we're teaching informa...

#83: The Science of Thinking Fast, Right, and On Purpose

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University challenge the binary of Kahneman’s System 1 (fast but often wrong) and System 2 ...

#82: Discipline, Ownership, and Doing It Right (Even When No One’s Watching)

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this final chapter of the Culture Code series, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University share the last 12 guiding principles that shape t...

#81: Systems Thinking for Character, Capacity, and Culture

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this next installment of the Culture Code series, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University reveal the next 9 culture principles that guid...

#80: The Culture Code Continued—Hard Truths That Build Strong People

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the follow-up to Episode #79, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University continue walking through their organization’s Culture Code—a s...

#79: The Culture Code: What We Practice, Why It Works

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this new episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack the first six principles in their organization’s Culture Code—a pra...

Episode #78: Systems Thinking IRL - Parenting in a Processed World

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special “IRL” (in real life) episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University sit down with a parent struggling to navigate one...

#77: Why the World Needs 8 Billion Systems Thinkers (Above the Standard)

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down their updated vision for global transformation: not just 8 billion syst...

#76: Why You Keep Attracting the Same People, Jobs, and Problems

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack a deceptively simple idea that has massive implications: never leave a plac...

#74: The 12 Gets: Simple, Scientific Rules for a Life That Works

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this inspiring episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University reveal the 12 Gets—a simple, science-backed system that helped Derek s...

#73: Earn Your Own Trust—The Real Power of Integrity

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack one of the most misunderstood (and underrated) skills: integrity. It’s no...

#72: How High Performers Really Manage Their Time, Energy & Minds

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take on the everyday challenge of self-ma...

#71: Think Better, Live Better—Why Systems Thinking Isn’t Just for Work

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack what they call the “arsenal”—a core set of mental moves that bridge t...

#69: Overthinking, Adaptability, and the Fast-and-Right Mindset

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack how systems thinking helps you handle life’s toughest changes—before th...

#68: The Grammar of Reality

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore the central thesis of their paper, The Grammar of Reality: that both natur...

#67: The Beginner’s Guide to Systems Thinking (In Under 20 Minutes)

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this clear and beginner-friendly episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down the who, what, why, where, when, and how of...

#66: There's Nothing More Practical Than a Good Theory

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down one of the biggest misconceptions in both science and everyday life: th...

#64: Stop Taking It Personally—Why Meaning Gets Lost in Translation

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore why so many of our arguments and misunderstandings come from mismatched me...

#63: The Simple Formula Behind Every Thought

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this eye-opening episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down their powerful formula for meaning: M = IO (meaning equals ...

#62: Echo Chambers, Fake News, and the Collapse of Credibility

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down how echo chambers form, why circular citation networks trick us into be...

#61: From Outward Bound to AI—Lessons in Raising Thinkers, Not Robots

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University reflect on parenting through the lens of DSRP, character development, and...

#60: Beyond the Couch: DSRP Therapy for a New Mental Model

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University introduce DSRP Therapy, a systems-based approach that helps people understand, sur...

#58: Stop Solving Problems—Start Understanding Systems

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University flip the script on one of the most accepted habits in work and life: problem-solvi...

#57: Connect the Dots—Why Root Cause Thinking Isn’t Enough

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University dive deep into the theme of their upcoming conference—Connect the Dots—and cha...

#56: The Whole Is NOT Greater Than Its Parts (Here’s Why)

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special podcast-iversary episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University celebrate one year of the Cabrera Lab Podcast by taking a...

#55: Don’t Trust, Verify—How to Separate Your Thoughts from Your Feelings

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling overwhelmed? Frustrated? Like the world is just too much? In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down the c...

#53: The Emperor Has No Clothes: Exposing the Truth About Systems Thinking

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone talks about systems thinking, but does anyone actually know what it is? In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University d...

#52: Critical Thinking is Biased Thinking

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Critical thinking gets thrown around as the gold standard of thinking—but is it really? In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell Uni...

#51: The #1 Indicator of Real Intelligence (It’s Not What You Expect)

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it really mean to be smart? Spoiler: it’s not your IQ score, your degrees, or your job title. In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrer...

#50: Slapping “Systems” on It Doesn’t work—How to Think Systemically for Real

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just because something has the word systems in it doesn’t mean it’s actually systemic thinking. In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of C...

#48: The Ultimate Playbook for Building a Winning Culture

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your organization has a culture—whether you designed it or not. In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down how t...

#47: How to Build an Adaptive Learning Organization That Thinks and Grows

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If your organization isn’t learning, it’s dying. In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore the power of organiza...

Episode #46: Capacity is King: Build Systems That Actually Work

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is your organization running on systems—or just spinning its wheels? In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University dive into t...

#45: Why Most Mission Statements Fail (And How to Do Yours Right)

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does your organization’s mission statement actually mean something, or is it just corporate fluff? In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of ...

#43: Why Your Organization’s Vision Sucks (and How to Fix It)

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What’s your organization’s vision—and is it really driving you forward? In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University demy...

#42: Systems Leadership: The Secret to Thriving Organizations

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University unpack the critical difference between outdated leadership models and systems lead...

#41: Start the New Year Like a Systems Thinker

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Forget the usual “new year, new you” clichés. In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University dive into how a systems thinker...

Episode #40: A Systems Thinker's Guide to a 'Perfect' Holiday

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The holidays can be magical—but they can also be downright stressful. In this special holiday episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell Unive...

#39: Stop Guessing: The Secret to Measuring and Improving Your Thinking

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can you measure thinking? Absolutely—and it might just be the most powerful tool you’re not using. In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera b...

#38: The 8 Biggest Mistakes In Systems Thinking

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Think you know systems thinking? Think again. In this hard-hitting episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take on the 8 biggest m...

#37: Rethinking Network Theory with DSRP

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take you on a journey from the basics of network theory to explaining why understa...

Episode #36: Getting Started in Systems Thinking: Become A Better Thinker in Less Than 1 Minute

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University, lay out a clear, no-nonsense protocol for practicing systems thinking and DSRP (D...

#35: Reclaiming Learning: Breaking Free from the Education System

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take a hard look at the dissatisfaction with the education system and why it’s f...

#34: Hearing Beyond Words: Uncovering the Hidden Structure in Everyday Conversations

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University reveal the powerful skill of "hearing the underlying structure"...

#33: Unlock Peak Performance: 5 Daily Moves to Become More Adaptive

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock peak mental performance and tackle any challenge with confidence! This episode arms you with five actionable moves to make you more adaptive in...

#32: Kick the Bucket

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera dive deep into the world of thinking and explain why you should be very afraid of "buckets...

#31: Context is Lazy

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera take on context. Learn why context is part of a lazy person's conversational toolkit, u...

#30: All About View-Point Perspectives

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera share all they've learned from their empirical research on view-point Perspectives. Lis...

#29: All About Action-Reaction Relationships

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, learn all about Action-Reaction Relationships with Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera. They share their research findings, and ...

#28: All About Part-Whole Systems

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera share all they've learned from their empirical research on part-whole systems. Listen n...

#27: All About Identity-Other Distinctions

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, learn all about Identity-Other Distinctions with Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera. They share their research findings, and th...

#26: Lessons from the Mountains

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera take you on a journey through their recent offsite in the Italian Alps. Discover firsthand h...

#25: The Path to Bueno

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera show us all The Path to Bueno. This path takes us from all the things that makes our lives N...

#24: Avoid the Norm

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera delve into the power of breaking away from societal norms and embracing being exceptional. J...

#23: Do You Know What It Feels Like To Be Wrong?

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera discuss the all too common situation of being the only person who is right in a room full of...

#22: The Inner Battle of Masking

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera get deep and talk about the ins and outs of masking. What is the impact of masking on the ne...

#21: Navigating the Paradox of Life

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera explain the great paradox of life: everything you do matters, and nothing you do matters. Ho...

#20: Break Your Habits and Dig Deeper

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera teach you how to break habits. Get rid of your unhealthy or unsavory habits, and dive deeper...

#19: Coke vs Pepsi, the Two Party System, and Forced Choices

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera discuss the forced binaries we all experience in everyday society. They demonstrate why thes...

#18: Relationships Sponsored By The Number 3

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera explore interpersonal relationships. Their method (Relationships Sponsored By The Number 3) ...

#17: Are You In Charge Of Your Feelings?

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera discuss the nuances of emotions, taking things personally, how to get some agency back in yo...

#16: Your Phone Is Using You

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera tackle technology addition. Listen to hear all about the people behind the phones, how they ...

#15: July 4th Special: A More Perfect Union

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's special July 4th episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University take on complexity, the emoji syndicate, the rules of...

#14: Neurodiversity: Disorder or Difference?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera delve into neurodiversity. Speaking from personal experience, they talk about what it is lik...

#13: How Do We Know What Is Real?

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera answer viewer Michelle's question: How do we know what is real? The answer may surprise...

#12: The Myth(?) of Work/Life Balance

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera talk about work/life balance. How can you balance work and life? Should there even be a bala...

#11: Grit, Resilience, and Antifragility

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera dive into the difference between grit, resilience, and antifragility. Using stories and less...

#10: Mindsets, Ethics, and Lichens, Oh My!

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera discuss how to move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. They also tackle ethics and ho...

#9: Thinking Critically About Critical Thinking

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera tackle critical thinking. They explore what it means to critically think about something, an...

#8: The War on Goop

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera discuss what goop means, why you should be aware of it, and what you can do to avoid the gau...

#7: Overthinking: It's NOT a Thing

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera discuss the issue of overthinking. More specifically, how there's no such thing as overthinking. In...