You could think of Field Notes as my “blog” of observations. Periodically peek into my sketchbook, eavesdrop on my conversations, get a glimpse of my projects — and lens on life in Silicon Valley.
Filter by: Projects, Actually in Silicon Valley or Interviews
David Kelley: Design Disrupter
Founder of IDEO & Stanford d.School
David Kelley talks with First Person host Lisa Van Dusen about his mission to help people regain their creative confidence, the universal applicability of human-centered design and the importance of play. He reflects on his summers growing up in the Midwest; his friendship with Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass; and his very early desire to become a school bus driver.
Camilla Olson: Odds Defier
Founder & CEO of Savitude
Camilla Olson defies the norms. She relishes taking on big challenges and has a proven record of overcoming them as a successful serial entrepreneur. Olson talks with Lisa Van Dusen about what motivates her: solving big, consequential problems, creating companies, building teams and championing women —- ideally all in combination.
Jacqueline Hartman: Equine Empathizer
Co-founder and Chief Facilitator of the Stanford Red Barn Leadership Program
Jacqueline Hartman talks with Lisa Van Dusen about how horses can illuminate the truth and ultimately, the best in people.
Jeff Dean: Deep Dabbler
Senior Fellow at Google Research
Try Googling "Jeff Dean jokes" and you will find many results — they seem to have a life of their own. While both flattered and a little embarrassed by this April Fools joke that keeps on giving, Dean is actually quite serious about his work.
Esther Wojcicki: Education Astronaut
Journalism/English teacher, Education Innovator and Author
Esther Wojcicki has been attending high school for more than 31 years and can't imagine not going to school every day. Being with her students is what fuels her, she said. And something must be happening there because one of her biggest challenges is to get the students to leave.
Sarah Mummah: Vegetable Nudger
Founder of DreamCatchers and Ph.D. candidate in behavioral science at University of Cambridge and Stanford University
Caution: being near Sarah Mummah can cause healthy habits to form because she believes that if you can change people's behaviors, you can change the world. A self-described minimalist, she runs, writes and eats vegetables.
Stephanie Martinson: Life Saver
Founder of Racing Hearts & Speech Pathologist
Armed with a matter-of-fact cheerfulness and her fellow Palo Altans' willingness to help, Stephanie Martinson, a part-time speech pathologist at the VA, mom and founder of Racing Hearts, is on track to save a lot of lives. She talks with Lisa Van Dusen about her journey.
Jane Shaw: Wisdom Dispenser
Dean of Religious Life at Stanford University
The Very Reverend Dr. Jane Shaw talks with Lisa Van Dusen about having arrived on the Stanford campus this fall as the Dean for Religious Life and Professor of Religious Studies after a four-year stint as Dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. She just might surprise you.
Lucy Blake: Conversation Corralor
President of the Northern Sierra Partnership
Blake, a MacArthur Fellow and Palo Alto resident, describes her work as "wrangling" her collaborators to protect the Northern Sierras from Mount Lassen to Lake Tahoe.
Bob Wenzlau: Waste Alchemist
Terradex CEO and Environmental Engineer
Bob Wenzlau, pioneer recycler and compost champion is now focused on what's under our workplaces, schools and homes that is known to be harmful to our health. Through his Palo Alto-based environmental information company, Terradex, Wenzlau developed a web application called What's Down as a kind of "Yelp for the environment."
Shilpa Yarlagadda: Peer Presenter
Founder of Club Academia
In this "First Person" interview, Lisa Van Dusen talks with Shilpa Yarlagadda, a 2014 graduate of Gunn High School in Palo Alto and founder of Club Academia, a video tutorial website that promotes "education of the students, by the students and for the students.
John Markoff: Technology Translator
New York Times Writer
In this "First Person" interview, John Markoff, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times senior writer and author, talks with Lisa Van Dusen about growing up in Palo Alto, covering Silicon Valley for more than 30 years and his current interest in artificial intelligence and robotics -- the "next big thing.
Elton Sherwin: Climate Crusader
CoFounder of the Carbon Zero Institute
Elton Sherwin, former cleantech venture capitalist turned accidental climate change entrepreneur talks with Lisa Van Dusen about his efforts to hunt down the most practical ways to make the planet "net zero" in carbon emissions by mid-century
David Winsberg: Spicy Farmer
East Palo Alto Farmer
While he specializes in peppers -- especially the Padrone -- he also raises chickens and grows fraises des bois, watercress and some rhubarb, all sought after by select Bay Area restaurants and farmers market goers
Jim Fruchterman: Tech4Good Evangelist
Social of Entrepreneur and Founder of Benetech
Jim Fruchterman, rocket scientist-turned-social entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Benetech, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit, develops technology to "truly help change the world.
Scott Sagan: Peace Professor
Senior Fellow at CISAC and Stanford Professor of Political Science
Scott Sagan, nuclear disarmament expert, Senior Fellow at CISAC and Stanford professor of political science, talks with Lisa Van Dusen in the fall of 2012 about his life-long career in academic research, teaching and policy devoted to disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation
Stanford Tree: Strange Enthusiast
The Stanford Tree
Stanford grad Jonathan Strange talks to Lisa Van Dusen about what it takes to be the Stanford Tree, mascot of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band, in anticipation of his trip to the New Year's Day Rose Bowl between Stanford and Wisconsin and the 50th reunion of the Stanford Band
Angela Buenning Filo: Forest Photographer
Palo Alto-based Photographer and Creator of the 'Palo Alto Forest Project'
Angela Buenning Filo, Palo Alto-based photographer and creator of the "Palo Alto Forest Project," speaks with Lisa Van Dusen about her community-activated photo installation, part of the Palo Alto Art Center's grand reopening exhibition -- "Community Creates" -- opening on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012.
Ben Lee: Court Coach
U.S. Women's Olympic Badminton Coach
Ben Lee, the U.S. Olympic Badminton coach and Palo Alto Police Department Patrol Officer, talks with Lisa Van Dusen before heading to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Andrew Luck: Field Leader
Stanford Quarterback and Architecture Student
Andrew Luck, the NFL's top draft pick from 2012 and Stanford's graduating star quarterback, talks about starting his career as a professional football player with the Indianapolis Colts and reflects on his time at Stanford in this exclusive one-on-one interview