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. 

Linda Williams: Courage Champion
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Linda Williams: Courage Champion

CEO of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

Linda Williams, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (PPMM), speaks with Lisa Van Dusen about the challenges of leading the nation's largest Planned Parenthood affiliate. Over Williams' 22-year tenure, PPMM has grown from a one-county, five-health-center operation to a primary health-care provider serving 42 counties in two states with 36 full-service, full-time and 12 part-time centers. Ninety-seven percent of PPMM's services are preventive.

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Mary Lynn Fitton: Girl Guider
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Mary Lynn Fitton: Girl Guider

Founder of The Art of Yoga Project

Mary Lynn Fitton lives near Heritage Park in downtown Palo Alto where she spends much of her time helping teen girls in the criminal justice system develop self-control and self-esteem through yoga and the creative arts in The Art of Yoga Project.

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Jeremy Lin: Defense Dynamo
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Jeremy Lin: Defense Dynamo

NBA Point Guard and Palo Alto High School Graduate

NBA point guard Jeremy Lin, a graduate of Palo Alto High School (Class of 2006) and Harvard University (Class of 2010), reflects on his Palo Alto basketball roots, his experiences as a trailblazing Asian and Ivy League player in the NBA, and his dreams for the future.

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Kelly McGonigal: Compassion Cultivator
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Kelly McGonigal: Compassion Cultivator

Stanford Health Psychologist and Lecturer

McGonigal shares her knowledge, spreads joy and builds community wherever she goes, demonstrating the applications of psychological science to personal health and happiness, as well as organizational success and social change.

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Matt Severson: Scholarship Angel
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Matt Severson: Scholarship Angel

Founder of The School Fund Nonprofit

Matt Severson, a 2007 Palo Alto High School graduate, started The School Fund, a nonprofit that connects donors with students in developing countries who need help with their annual school fees of about $150 per year.

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Dr. SV Mahadevan: Global Scaler
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Dr. SV Mahadevan: Global Scaler

Director of Stanford Emergency Medicine International

Dr. S.V. Mahadevan was born in Oakland and raised in southern California. He attended UCLA Medical School before heading north to Stanford in 1999. When he isn't managing Stanford's Level 1 Trauma Center/Emergency Department, Dr. Maha, as he is known, is often traveling the world advising developing countries about how they can launch emergency medical services—or improve upon their existing programs.

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Dr. Ed Weiss: Pioneering Poker
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Dr. Ed Weiss: Pioneering Poker

Palo Alto Acupuncturist

Ed Weiss, M.D., has been a pioneering practitioner of acupuncture in Palo Alto for more than 35 years. After studying psychology and chemistry at Yale, he enrolled at Stanford Medical School. Following his internal-medicine residency, he set off for London for a vacation and ended up creating a self-styled fellowship in acupuncture.

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Sandy Stadler: Animal Advocate
Interviews Stephen Davis Interviews Stephen Davis

Sandy Stadler: Animal Advocate

Superintendent of Palo Alto Animal Services

For more than 14 years, Sandy Stadler has been superintendent of Palo Alto Animal Services, which is located on East Bayshore Road and serves Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.

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Nanci Kauffman: Female Fortifier
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Nanci Kauffman: Female Fortifier

Head of Castilleja School

Nanci Kauffman became the head of Castilleja School in the fall of 2010. A resident of Palo Alto since 1997, Kauffman began her career as an educator in 1979 at Marymount School, a girls' school in New York City. She graduated from high school at age 16 before graduating from Vassar College and Teachers College at Columbia University.

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Michael Kieschnick: Progressive Powerhouse
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Michael Kieschnick: Progressive Powerhouse

Co-founder and President of Credo Mobile

Michael Kieschnick, Palo Alto resident and co-founder and president of CREDO Mobile, a San Francisco-based wireless company that donates a portion of its revenues to progressive groups world-wide, talks to Palo Alto Online about his work and life.

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Betsy Franco: Creative Collaborator
Interviews Lisa Van Dusen Interviews Lisa Van Dusen

Betsy Franco: Creative Collaborator

Multidisciplinary Artist

Betsy Franco, Palo Alto resident and mother of Oscar-nominated actor James Franco, talks to Palo Alto Online about her upcoming play "Metamorphosis: Junior Year" at the Palo Alto Children's Theatre, (March 3-5 and 10-12), her multimedia creative life, and what it has been like to raise and collaborate with three artistic sons.

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