How Bridge-Building Questions Cross Divides! | Frank Sesno #58
Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions!
Using playful techniques to build rapport
Frank recounts a word-association game with Nancy Pelosi to establish rhythm and avoid talking-point answers.
"I'm gonna make an appointment with my curiosity." - Frank Sesno
Emmy award-winning journalist Frank Sesno shares how curiosity and strategic questioning shaped his four-decade career covering presidents and world leaders as CNN's Washington Bureau Chief and White House correspondent. From a fourth-grade question about astronauts to interviewing five U.S. presidents, Frank reveals the power of deliberate curiosity and active listening.
Frank breaks down his approach to preparing for high-stakes interviews, explaining how he blocks conversations into thematic acts while remaining flexible. He introduces the "echo question" technique, which is simply repeating a person's emotionally charged word back to them, that transforms surface answers into more profound truths. Frank emphasizes that the best questioners are the best listeners, focusing on what people say and what they don't say.
In "Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change," Frank discusses why bridge-building questions are critical in our polarized moment. He explores how AI makes human curiosity more valuable and shares his practice of "making an appointment with curiosity" to create time to deliberately formulate meaningful questions.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:04 Meet Frank Sesno: A Legendary Journalist
03:05 Early Encounters with the Power of Questions
05:01 Curiosity Encouraged: School Days
05:54 The Art of Interviewing: Following Curiosity
08:37 Touchstone Moments in Journalism
09:35 Holding Power to Account
10:42 The Journey to Asking Tough Questions
12:48 Understanding Human Stories
18:25 Complexity of Human Experience
22:38 Listening: The Key to Great Questions
24:37 Echo Questions: A Powerful Technique
27:29 Preparing for Interviews: A Structured Approach
29:40 Structuring Interview Questions
30:27 The Importance of Flexibility in Interviews
31:16 The Power of Walking and Reflecting
32:01 Lessons from the Galapagos
34:13 Traveling with Curiosity
36:38 Fostering Curiosity in Students
40:46 Question Categories That Are Needed Today
47:04 The Role of AI in Questioning
50:39 The Human Touch in Questioning
52:21 Building Rapport with Interviewees
53:26 The Right Now Question
53:54 Finding Hope in Challenging Times
57:26 Connecting with Frank Sesno
58:51 Summary and Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change by Frank Sesno
George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs
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