Part 1: Journalist Cal Fussman on Questions, Storytelling, Adventure
Feb 22, 2017
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Journalist Cal Fussman, known for his skill of asking great questions and world-class storytelling, shares his insights on the power of storytelling and asking questions. The episode explores the art of interrupting others during storytelling and discusses the importance of developing meta awareness and the art of adaptation. It also delves into the qualities of a great listener and the power of curiosity in mental health. The conversation touches on confirmation bias in asking questions and emphasizes the importance of expressing gratitude and seeking support.
Effective questioning involves not just the words spoken, but also observing body gestures, emotions, and underlying motivations.
Asking thought-provoking questions and uncovering deeper insights requires careful observation and active listening to interviewees.
Building trust and establishing a welcoming atmosphere through gestures like bringing a gift and using multiple tape recorders leads to deeper and more meaningful conversations during interviews.
Deep dives
The Importance of Breaking Bread
During a chance encounter, the speaker is invited to have a meal with Robert De Niro instead of conducting a traditional interview. The experience turns out to be transformative, as the speaker learns the power of connecting through shared meals and meaningful conversations.
Patience and Insight in Interviews
The speaker shares his experiences in interviewing notable figures, highlighting the importance of patience and insight in effective questioning. By carefully observing and listening to interviewees, the speaker is able to ask thought-provoking questions and uncover deeper insights.
Early Influences and the Art of Storytelling
The speaker credits his upbringing and exposure to his mother's storytelling as the foundation of his own storytelling abilities. By witnessing his mother's ability to turn mundane details into captivating narratives, he developed a passion for the art of storytelling and connecting with others through compelling questions and conversations.
Seizing Opportunities and Following Intuition
The speaker recalls moments in his early career where he took risks and followed his intuition, such as obtaining a press pass to interview Tom Osborne and breaking through the expected patterns in order to ask thought-provoking questions. Trusting his observations and instincts, he pursued opportunities and discovered the power of asking the right questions at the right time.
Importance of Curiosity and Authenticity in Interviews
The podcast episode highlights the importance of curiosity and authenticity in conducting interviews. The host shares his own experiences and strategies for engaging with interviewees by focusing on their humanity and being fully present in the conversation. He emphasizes the significance of treating the person being interviewed as ordinary, rather than solely focusing on their fame or achievements. The use of two tape recorders and a gift of a book of previous interviews helps build trust and establish a welcoming atmosphere. By honoring the humanity of the interviewee, the host is able to have deeper and more meaningful conversations.
Preparing for Interviews and Building Trust
The podcast episode also discusses the host's preparation process and the importance of building trust with the interviewees. The host shares how he prepares by carrying two tape recorders to avoid any technical issues and to create a relaxed environment during the interview. Additionally, he talks about the significance of bringing a gift, such as a book of previous interviews, as a gesture of respect and to create a sense of camaraderie. The act of bringing a gift also serves as a reminder of the host's past success and expertise in conducting interviews. By establishing trust and creating a welcoming atmosphere, the host is able to elicit deeper insights and reflections from the interviewees.
This conversation, just like Cal Fussman, gets better as it goes. I really enjoy the conversations, that at the end, I walk away saying, man I'd love to spend more time him/her….This was one of those conversations.
He's known for his skill of asking great questions -- yet his talent of storytelling is world class.
Questions are to illicit responses and engagement -- and -- there is so much more beneath the surface of an answer -- body gestures, emotions, hints of motivation, and ultimately, snips of the framework that the person is working to share how they understand the world (and people). It's all in there -- does the responder orientate to protect, to embrace…..to explore, to have fun? And -- Cal takes that understanding to the next level by doing it artistically through storytelling.
We all have a story -- thousands of stories. Cal pulls back the curtain to share his -- and the challenge is set for us all to become better at asking questions to learn other's stories -- and -- to become thoughtful on how we share our own stories with people who are thoughtful -- caring -- interested -- enough to offer their time and attention.
This is a two part episode -- it's too good, way to good to cram. When you listen to Cal's stories, listen for the framework, for the stuff underneath the surface -- and -- also see if you can listen to how he constructs his stories.
We also talk about the art of interrupting others -- during storytelling -- He doesn't -- I do, and we have fun with it (and if you've ever wondered why I purposefully interrupt folks -- it's all by design, and we talk about it just a bit in this conversation).
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