The Cabrera Lab Podcast

Discover the true nature of reflection and why it's often misunderstood. Unpack how systems thinking and the DSRP method can help you learn more effectively. Learn that reflection isn't just an annual ritual but a continuous process essential for personal growth. The hosts explore how organizing information shapes behaviors and decisions, emphasizing that changing mental models leads to broader outcomes. Small, incremental reflective practices can spark significant transformations in various areas of life.

In this enlightening discussion, the hosts explore how holiday visits can trigger childhood dynamics, regressing adults into old roles. They introduce systems thinking tools like the RAR Quad to help navigate family interactions and regain agency. The conversation challenges the myth of the 'perfect holiday,' revealing how such expectations can lead to disappointment. Personal anecdotes highlight the importance of valuing effort over perfection. Ultimately, they encourage curiosity and reflection to transform holiday experiences into opportunities for growth.

Discover how systems thinkers can see and understand 75% more of reality, thanks to cognitive frameworks like DSRP. Delve into the powerful Love-Reality Loop that aligns mental models with nature. Learn why most people overlook vital relationships in problem-solving and how applying the 'Six Moves' can boost decision-making performance by 550%. The hosts emphasize the importance of training in this engaging exploration, showcasing tangible gains in clarity and effectiveness through a systemic approach.

Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera tackle the dilemma of excelling in a system that prioritizes compliance over creativity. They share a childhood story about a diorama that highlights the struggle against rigid rubrics. With the humorous 'shit slider' metaphor, they discuss how small compromises can accumulate psychological costs. The duo emphasizes the importance of awareness in navigating bureaucracies and maintaining your identity while advocating for curiosity. Their insights provide a framework for making thoughtful choices in both education and the workplace.

This discussion dives into how a boy's fear of monsters opens up a pathway to teaching critical thinking skills. The hosts explain the role of mental models in shaping fears and behaviors. They share practical strategies for helping kids test their beliefs against reality, like reenacting scary moments in daylight. Emphasis is placed on fostering evidence-based confidence and avoiding adult projections of fear. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the importance of raising children who can navigate misinformation with critical thinking.

Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera delve into the powerful thinking skill of defining what something is and is not. This essential distinction helps clarify communication, fosters personal growth, and reduces confusion in relationships and teams. They break down complex ideas like construct validity in social sciences and emphasize how clear boundaries lead to efficient decision-making. With practical examples, they illustrate how mastering these distinctions accelerates thinking, ultimately making it faster and more accurate. The conversation highlights the transformative effect of practice in navigating complexities.

Explore the innovative concept of O-based education that shifts focus from rote memorization to teaching students how to think. Discover how mental models help young learners adapt to an ever-changing world filled with misinformation. The podcast discusses the importance of teaching thinking through engaging content and the transformative implications for both teachers and students. Get insights on preparing future generations with lifelong learning skills, discerning information, and navigating complexities of modern life.

Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera tackle the universal struggle of accepting tough feedback. They reveal how we build protective mental walls around our self-image, blocking growth. With humor and insights, they introduce the concept of a semi-permeable mind, encouraging openness to truth while protecting core values. They suggest practical tools like is/is-not lists to uncover rigid self-beliefs and share strategies to transform feedback from something painful into a path for improvement. Embrace feedback to accelerate personal growth!

Dive into a lively critique of famous systems thinking quotes by legends like Deming and Meadows. The hosts humorously rate each quote on validity, reliability, and usefulness, revealing surprising truths and myths. From Deming's insightful principle that systems reflect their results to a skeptical take on Senge's metaphors, listeners will find entertaining insights on which ideas hold weight. Plus, learn how to navigate popular claims with a keen eye for empirical evidence—an essential guide for any systems thinker!

In this Think It Through episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University tackle two everyday problems that reveal the hidden power of systems thinking. They start by breaking down why theory and practice are never truly separate, showing how real solutions emerge when people think structurally—whether they’re leading teams or navigating family life.Using a 7% market growth challenge as a case study, they introduce a powerful move called P Gen S Drop P—a simple way to align marketing, sales, and operations around a shared mental model instead of competing perspectives. Then, they apply the same logic to a deeply relatable family conflict between two sisters stuck in a feedback loop of stress and unhealthy habits.From corporate strategy to personal relationships, this episode proves one thing: when you stop debating perspectives and start diagramming systems, you can see the real structure beneath every problem—and finally solve it.