Advertise on podcast: Life of the Mind from the Oak Guild Institute

Having a close group of friends that meets regularly over a lifetime provides many benefits. One is the ability to have regular conversations on a variety of topics, even difficult and contentious ones. Lisa Novacek has had such a group-her Study Group from the Harvard Business School Class of 1983. Recently, Lisa teed up a conversation on 10 ethical issues revolving around AI. Listen to the conversation that Jake Chacko from the Oak Guild Institute had with Lisa capturing the essence of that discussion.

Raj Oza is no stranger to OGI's Life of the Mind Podcast. However, this time in a twist, we are interviewing Raj on the occasion of the launch of his debut novel- Double Play on the Red Line. This work of "auto"-fiction captures many of the themes from Podcast Episodes 3-5, also with Raj, around race and identity. However, this is fiction about baseball interleaved with profound race, identity and justice issues. The most apt comments on this podcast as well as the book come from listeners and readers who say, "I really don't like baseball, but I couldn't stop reading because of the powerful identity and justice themes." Conversely, others will read the book just for the baseball history and lore while "tolerating" the bigger themes. A few like the interviewer are captivated by both aspects as well as Raj's love for Chicago! The interview also delves into the craft of writing fiction. Raj, in his parting comments, beautifully captures the purpose and spirit of the Oak Guild Institute. Reference: Double Play on the Red Line. Copyright 2025 Rajesh C Oza. Third World Press

Politics should be an arena for service, even if seasonedoften with vigorous disagreement. Sadly, in today’s America, politics often seems more like an arena primarily for name-calling and blame-shifting. The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk brought this polarized state of our politics to a fever pitch just recently.  Against this backdrop and only a few days before the assassination, Jake Chacko had recorded our interview with Michael Wear, leader of the White House Office ofFaith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships during the Obama Administration, Founder-CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life (CCP&L), and author of The Spirit of Our Politics. Michael says there is a better way to do politics—one where politicians are in service to the people, and the people are guided by moral knowledge, or the adherence toa set of principles outside of the self, developed and tested through time and experience. Come explore the “better way”!   References:  https://www.michaelwear.com/spirit-of-our-politics https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/where-is-moral-knowledge   https://thebonhoefferproject.com/weeklycolumn/2018/11/14/-a-bonhoeffer-moment   https://www.ccpubliclife.org/   https://www.michaelwear.com/spirit-of-our-politics   https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/08/donald-trump-heaven-christian-russell-moore-russia-ukraine/

The American healthcare system is complex, but two of the most urgent cost drivers offer places to start exploring possible reforms: prescription drug pricing and how providers are paid. In this episode, we examine the conflicting incentives at the heart of the U.S. healthcare system between insurers, providers, pharmaceutical companies, and patients. These competing priorities shape everything from access to care to drug affordability. Through conversations with healthcare experts, we unpack the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and compare fee-for-service and capitated payment models.  PBM diagram referred to in the podcast: https://www.healthcarehuddle.com/p/drug-supply-chain.  Healthcare policy articles by ScriptsPro CEO and journalist Ken Perez: https://www.hfma.org/author/ken-perez/.

In this episode, we explore the concept of hidden potential and how it shapes our lives. Inspired by Adam Grant’s 2023 bestselling book, Hidden Potential, the conversation centers around the idea that discovering what we and others are capable of is not purely about uncovering innate talent but about nurturing drive and curiosity. And it's not necessarily about discovering exceptional abilities but about appreciating and nurturing the unique "light" that each human being offers. We are joined by Oak Guild salon attenders Dr. Ava Satnik, a physician, and Cary Fukada, a father of a neurodivergent daughter. Both share personal experiences of uncovering and cultivating hidden potential—Ava with her patients and Cary with his daughter. Their insights build on Grant’s framework, which outlines how individuals, families, and systems can support and unlock potential. Show notes: Olympics coverage clips c/o NBC Sports on YouTube: Simone Biles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPCwstmObYSydney McLaughlin-Levrone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeKnYi2vVgI Pan Zhanle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N60Le7TFgMI

As we wrap up the Career Journeys series in the Life of the Mind Podcast, we talk with Bella Park about looking forward. Bella is a senior at Homestead High School in Cupertino, Ca. Unlike our previous guests who looked back at their careers, civic minded Bella looks forward to college and life with a mix of hope, empathy and a deep desire to get involved. She wants to make a difference. Enjoy!

"Bring your whole self to work" is a given for Millenials and GenZ in the workplace. In this concluding episode of Career Journeys, we talk to a baby boomer who brought his whole self to his whole career. For Rajan Mathews, his whole self included his faith identity which he brought to his role as an executive in the U.S., India, and Afghanistan. We hear stories about life and work in different places and cultures over many decades including one hair raising episode of running into a U.S. Army tank! Kavita Mathews, Rajan's daughter provides the commentary in this Oak Guild Institute production together with your host Jake Chacko.

In this continuation of the Career Series in the Life of the Mind podcasts from the Oak Guild Institute we talk with Dr. Bill Lloyd. For sure Bill is an ophthalmologist. However, the good doctor is more. Bill is also a radio and tv personality, he is a communicator, he is an educator, he is a husband, he is a father and he is a friend. Because of his communications skills, Bill imparts life lessons even as he tells his career story. As an added bonus, enjoy the commentary from two Oak Guild founders Katie Gray and Jake Chacko as they draw the parallels between Bill's story and Arthur C. Brooks' book From Strength to Strength.

The Tax Man cometh.... and we are glad to see him!! In the continuing series on Career Journeys and the accompanying decisions and choices, we are delighted to feature a good friend of the Oak Guild Institute-Larry Langdon. Larry loves taxes but he loves so much more. At the young age of 85 ( as of 2023), Larry is still going strong, parlaying his tax and business experience, his strong sense of ethics, as well as his faith to help non profits and people in the Bay Area and beyond. Come join us as we explore Larry's career journey shaped by his family and Quaker upbringing with a passion to bring justice and ethics to the IRS , the Ford Motor Company, back to the IRS , to Hewlett Packard, back again to the IRS and then to the law firm of Mayer-Brown where he is still a partner doing pro-bono work. We find out how Larry's work helped reform corporate tax shelters, enabled Amish pastors to not pay Social Security taxes for good reason, drive non profits to better management and more. Always willing to listen and help, Larry has been an inspiration for so long to so many. We get a glimpse in this episode of what makes this great human being who he is. At the Oak Guild Institute, we the founders Jake, Kate and Katie consider him a special friend. We offer this episode as a tribute to that friend. Jake-Kate-Katie

Join us as we kick off a Life of the Mind series on career stories and the decisions that led to them. In the first of this series, we explore the career and decision choices of Anne Stuhler who our host Jake Chacko ran into at his 50th High School Reunion. Anne is probably unique in that no one else most likely has had the two careers that she has enjoyed- a Tennis Professional and a Production Designer in film and TV. Anne has been responsible for works such as Boiler Room and Blue Bloods and many more. Enjoy this fascinating story as well as the opportunities that came Anne’s way together with the decisions, sometimes abrupt she had to make. Kate Whitehead provides her usual insightful commentary. Our show notes will tag time frames for specific episodes and/or works in both her tennis as well as tv and film career along with decision points. While the entire 60minute + episode is fascinating in our opinion, there may be fewer people who love both tennis and production arts but want the details in one or the other!

In the second part of A Woman's Journey,  Julie Oomen and your host Jake Chacko unpack the value of empathy which is prominent on the Oomen Family Wall of Values. The pair use their understanding of empathy in real time to discuss the recent United States Supreme Court Decision on Dobbs which upended the 50 year old precedent set by Roe V Wade. A controversial decision with strong feelings on both sides, both Julie and Jake process their individual feelings. Additionally, Julie describes how she intends to use the power of empathy to discuss this decision during an upcoming trip back to Missouri to visit her folks. They are on the other side of this issue from Julie! Yet there is hope to having a real, loving dialogue even though there is disagreement- the essence of what  the Oak Guild Institute is trying to promote. Kate Whitehead challenges the listeners to think deeply about both empathy and the abortion issue at the conclusion of the conversation. There is a fascinating postscript on empathy, something we all assume is "good" , at the end of Kate's concluding commentary! Pictures of the Oomens and their Family Wall of Values will be available soon on the website www.OakGuild.org.

What do you do when all of your bearings regarding society and even your country get upended and you feel extremely unsettled? In this episode of the Life of The Mind Podcast, we follow the journey of one such woman, Julie Ooomen. We travel with her as she settles and centers herself and her immediate family consisting of her husband and two young daughters via a wall of values. We further see how she uses the values on their family wall to navigate teaching moments for her kids.  We also see Julie reestablishing a framework for dialogue with her parents and family of origin using the value and power of empathy. Both episodes in this series A Woman's  Journey go to the heart of what the Oak Guild Institute is attempting to do- relearn the art of loving dialogue, even on contested topics while continuing to learn and grow.   More detailed show notes with pictures of the Oomen Family Wall of Values will be available soon on our website at www.OakGuild.org Your host is Jake Chacko and as usual Kate Whitehead provides insightful and thoughtful analysis, commentary and perspective.

What would it be like to under an oppressive regime in a country that has just undergone a coup? One of our guests, "Sam" in this Life of the Mind podcast from the Oak Guild Institute (OGI) is doing just that! Fortunately he has a friend named "Don", an American  living in Atlanta, who is helping Sam and his colleagues with encouragement, love, friendship and wise counsel. Our guests' real names are not used for their protection. The specific country in South East Asia is not named explicitly either but is pretty easy to deduce.  How does an individual survive but in a loving manner under such circumstances? Typically folks experiencing such  situations have either fled  or withdrawn (think Ukrainians or more to the point Russians), resisted (Ukraine) or even joined forces with their oppressors - think Germans under the Third Reich. While those of us living in the United States may think this improbable, our polarization and events like January 6 are perhaps warning signals. Join our host Jake Chacko for an intense, moving and insightful conversation on "The 4th Way". Even as you listen to what is happening, notice the story within the story. "Sam" is living it now- real and raw. "Don" is so, so wise and a good friend. Jake listening in real time sounds incredulous and sometimes flabbergasted. Our OGI commentator Kate Whitehead, having absorbed the conversation, provides really wise perspective that brackets the conversation and provides context. Enjoy!!!

Emerging technologies like Web 3, AI and the MetaVerse among others are barreling down toward us. In this 2 part set of the Life of the Mind podcasts from the Oak Guild Institute we discuss the philosophical and moral implications and ramifications of these and similar technologies. Futurist Becca Carroll and Pastor/Philosopher John Ortberg join Oak Guild’s Jake Chacko in exploring these implications in a fascinating and wide ranging conversation. Kate Whitehead, also of Oak Guild, provides her usual insightful context and commentary to add color and texture to the conversation. Part 1 of the conversation focuses around Web 3- an Internet that according to Becca promises to decentralize and democratize not just the Internet but also long standing institutions whether in Finance or Education or more. The conversation here discusses the role of authority from sources of authority to need for authority. If Part 1’s ramifications revolved more around society, the conversation in Part 2 around AI and the MetaVerse dives deeply into the concept of personhood. Do these emerging technologies make us more, or less human? A lot of sources for additional study are mentioned, particularly by John Ortberg. The show notes that will be up on the Oakguild.org website will provide a listing of these. Enjoy and pass along!

Emerging technologies like Web 3, AI and the MetaVerse among others are barreling down toward us. In this 2 part set of the Life of the Mind podcasts from the Oak Guild Institute we discuss the philosophical and moral implications and ramifications of these and similar technologies. Futurist Becca Carroll and Pastor/Philosopher John Ortberg join Oak Guild’s Jake Chacko in exploring these implications in a fascinating and wide ranging conversation. Kate Whitehead, also of Oak Guild, provides her usual insightful context and commentary to add color and texture to the conversation. Part 1 of the conversation focuses around Web 3- an Internet that according to Becca promises to decentralize and democratize not just the Internet but also long standing institutions whether in Finance or Education or more. The conversation here discusses the role of authority from sources of authority to the need for authority. If Part 1’s ramifications revolved more around society, the conversation in Part 2 around AI and the MetaVerse dives deeply into the concept of personhood. Do these emerging technologies make us more, or less human? A lot of sources for additional study are mentioned, particularly by John Ortberg. The show notes that will be up on the Oakguild.org website will provide a listing of these. Enjoy and pass along!