The Art of Noticing: How Asking Better Questions Changes What We See! | Rob Walker #61
Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions!
Rob's discovery of journalism and permission to ask
Rob Walker explains discovering journalism at 18 and how it gave him a framework to ask questions and learn for readers.
Episode Summary
"If all you do is pay attention to what everyone else is paying attention to, then by definition you're not likely to innovate anything or create anything very original or different or surprising." - Rob Walker
Writer and cultural observer Rob Walker joins Ken to explore how questions and noticing reshape the way we move through the world. Rob traces his origin story back to discovering journalism at 18, a framework that gave a shy, introverted kid permission to ask questions on behalf of others.
They dig into his book and newsletter The Art of Noticing, talking about everyday noticing assignments, why “what am I missing?” is a powerful self-question, and how small acts of attention can mark time and make life more memorable.
Rob shares the story behind the Significant Objects project and why story, and not a price tag, creates real value in the objects we keep. From New Orleans as a “conversational city” to his teaching on point of view and manifestos, Rob reflects on questions as both agency and responsibility, in democracies, organizations, and personal life. Be sure to subscribe to Rob's Substack The Art of Noticing newsletter at https://robwalker.substack.com/
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes
00:00 Introduction to Overlooked Ideas
01:56 Introducing Rob Walker
03:19 Rob Walker's Early Life and Career
04:28 Discovering Journalism and the Power of Questions
05:54 Embracing Curiosity and Askew Perspectives
08:57 The Influence of Laurie Anderson
13:30 Living in New Orleans
14:56 The Unique Culture of New Orleans
21:21 The Art of Noticing
22:32 Personal Experiences with Noticing
27:50 The Impact of Noticing on Daily Life
33:21 Noticing and Questions
40:56 The Power of Asking Questions
42:39 Questions and Agency
44:26 The Importance of Questions in Organizations
45:14 Inspirations and Heroes in Questioning
46:11 The Art of Asking Questions
46:37 Early Lessons in Journalism
47:42 Challenges of Interviewing Law Firms
48:12 Curiosity-Driven Interviews
48:35 The Sharpie Story
50:15 Preparing for Interviews
50:51 The Flow of Conversation
52:58 Finding Unique Angles in Business Stories
55:09 The Power of Longevity and Community
56:39 Mindfulness and Creativity
59:21 Significant Objects Project
01:01:04 The Value of Story in Objects
01:06:23 The Gift of a Questioning Mindset
01:11:59 Teaching and Point of View
01:12:51 The Role of Questions in Design
01:14:20 Student Challenges with Questions
01:18:57 Personal Reflections on Questions
01:19:25 End of Year Reflections
01:22:48 Final Takeaways and Reflections
Resources Mentioned
Consumed column in the New York Times Magazine
The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker (book)
Buying It by Rob Walker (book)
Lynn Borton of Choose to Be Curious
Laurie Anderson United States Live (album) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Live)
Pacifica radio station (Houston)
Brooklyn Academy of Music / BAM
Journey (band)
Foreigner (band)
Hand Grenade (cocktail)
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCA)
The Art of Noticing (newsletter)
The American Lawyer (publication)
Martindale-Hubbell (legal directory)
Cracker Barrel Logo Controversy
Waking Up Meditation App
Lost Objects Book by Rob Walker
Ignorance by Stuart Firestein (book)
Inconspicuous Consumption newsletter by Paul Lucas
School of Visual Arts in New York
Point of View Class at SVA
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