Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Guests As the "Connection Counselor," Joe Kwon's mission is to help professionals elevate their careers by teaching them how to connect to anyone, anytime, and anywhere. He is the creator of the "Everybody Thrives" program, which is designed to help organizations transcend statistics, increase belonging, and unlock higher performance. He is also the author of three leadership books, including Unlock Your Executive Presence: Feel like a Boss, and the host of several podcasts, including "Diversity Bites." Summary Our conversation focused on the concept of "executive presence," the ability to command attention and inspire trust through confidence and clarity of voice and behavior. An essential component of E.P. is image – how one presents oneself to others, especially to leadership. But it's more than mere image; it's the aura you convey to leadership that you can step into the larger shoes of the next position and make things happen. E.P. gives leadership the confidence to place a bet on "future you" rather than just on "past you." E.P. is often an essential component of getting promotions when candidates are similar in terms of skill set and track records. Social Media / Referenced Website: https://everybodythrives.podia.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmSC7_veHdshx5Y8ukZHQgQ/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectioncounselor/ Path2Promotion - Avoid common career detours and get on the path to promotion by learning how promotions really work and the keys to improving your promotion prospects. It's a program offered either through 1:1 private coaching or through a forthcoming online course. For details, contact Joe via his email:: joe@connectioncounselor.com

Guests Jason Greer is the Founder and President of Greer Consulting, Inc., a labor management and employee relations consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is a trusted source of the latest race and labor relations news for media nationwide. Summary Jason Greer and I dove deep into the crucial yet turbulent waters of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our polarized world. We explored practical ways to nurture diverse and inclusive workplaces and addressed concerns around diversity training. It was all about building bridges and fostering a sense of belonging. Integrating DEI into the very fabric of business practices emerged as a key theme. We discussed facing fear as a hurdle to embracing diverse perspectives and the importance of creating work environments where everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique talents. It's not about one-off initiatives but about sustained efforts to build an inclusive culture that celebrates and leverages individual differences. With cultural polarization a stark reality, navigating sensitive topics and fostering productive dialogue across diverse viewpoints became another focus. We talked about addressing concerns surrounding diversity training (36:44) and finding common ground despite differing opinions. Ultimately, Jason Greer and I both gained valuable insights for navigating the complexities of DEI in today's world. By promoting understanding, challenging biases, and building bridges across cultures, we can all contribute to businesses and communities that thrive in a more equitable and inclusive environment. Social Media / Referenced Previous interviews with Jason Connect with Jason LinkedIn

Guests Andy Stephens was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Washington on the Salish Sea. After 17 years, he traveled to Los Angeles to play college baseball in the sunshine. He taught in the public schools of LAUSD for six years before moving to Boulder, CO, where he now teaches science at New Vista High School and at area colleges. Summary My conversation with Andy revolved around the unique educational philosophy of New Vista High School, where fostering curiosity is paramount, and Andy's particular teaching style. We discussed innovative science classes designed to ignite wonder, with mixed-age groupings enabling peer learning and deeper engagement. The importance of school purpose and community acceptance in supporting this approach was emphasized alongside equitable teaching methods that cater to diverse student needs. Ultimately, the focus lies on education that sparks a lifelong love of learning, empowered by storytelling and connection – an approach with lessons beyond the classroom walls. Social Media / Referenced New Vista High School

Summary No guest today in what is my first episode of the new year. I promise no New Year's resolutions except one: to read and digest as many books as I can during the year. Given my interest in books, I was curious to know what some of my colleagues, friends, and family members will read in 2024. So, I contacted more than 40 of them, asking them for a brief bio, their book of choice, and why that title might find its way to their nightstand. I thought that maybe I'd hear from a few, but that many might be too busy to respond, given the fast-approaching holiday. Their responses poured in: Jesse Kohler is the President and Chair of The Change Campaign and also serves as Executive Director of the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice. Going to read Preventing and Healing Climate Traumas: A Guide to Building Resilience and Hope in Communities by Bob Doppelt. Because the climate crisis is widely traumatizing. Promoting support across our society to work through it together is one of the most critical callings of our time. Paul McNicholls is a lay historian and author. Going to read Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918–40 by Richard Dannatt and Robert Lyman. Because what happened to the British Army between the First and Second World Wars explains why they were summarily defeated by the Germans and had to be evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940. Frank Zaccari is a best-selling author and CEO of Life Altering Events, LLC. Going to read The Passion Test by Janet and Chris Attwood. Because over my long time on the planet, my passion – or what I thought was my passion – has changed many times. Now, in my semi-retirement, this book will help me focus on finding my next passion where I can make a difference. Neil C. Hughes is a freelance technology journalist, podcast host and engineer, and the producer of "Tech Talks Daily" and "Tech Fusion" by Citrix Ready. Going to read Freedom to Think: Protecting a Fundamental Human Right in the Digital Age by Susie Alegr. Because this title will deepen my understanding of the intersection between technology, privacy, and human rights in the digital age. Melissa Hughes, Ph.D. is a neuroscience researcher, speaker, and author of Happy Hour with Einstein and Happier Hour with Einstein: Another Round. Going to read Misbelief by Dan Ariely. Because the human brain is so incredible and so incredibly flawed (and because I read everything that Dan Ariely writes!) And Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant. Because we all have hidden potential begging to be discovered. Valerie Gordon is a former Emmy-winning television producer who brings the Art of Storytelling for Impact and Influence to audiences and corporate leaders. Going to read Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant. Because I found his previous works to be insightful and helpful in my business as well as in meeting my own goals. I recommend it to anyone interested in the human mind and its impact on realizing our potential. Rich Gassen is a print production manager at UW-Madison and also leads a community of practice for supervisors where we explore topics on leadership and staff development. Going to read Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant. Because I have always sought to improve myself and those around me to achieve more through better processes, incorporating efficiencies, and harnessing strengths. I feel that this book will bring me to another level in being able to do that. Sarah Elkins is a StrengthFinder coach and story consultant, keynote speaker, podcast host, and the author of Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will. Going to read Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Because I've become especially sensitive to representation over the past few years, and I talk about wanting to support all people. Reading a book by a person of color and understanding her back story is one way to help me do that. Diane Wyzga is a global podcaster, a story expert who helps clients clarify ideas and amplify messaging, and a hiker – who walks the talk. Going to read The Perfection Trap - Embracing the Power of Good Enough by Thomas Curran. Because as I've become aware of our culture's dangerous obsession with perfection, I want to learn to step away from my own focus on it. Bill Whiteside is a retired software salesman who is now writing a book about Winston Churchill and a little-known event from World War II. Going to read Larry McMurtry: A Life by Tracy Daugherty. Because after spending the past five years researching my book with my nose in books about Britain and France in 1940, it's going to be refreshing to read just for fun once again. McMurtry's personality and career as a bookstore owner and a highly regarded author – "Lonesome Dove," "The Last Picture Show" and "Terms of Endearment" – fascinate me. Mark Reid is a maker of traditional handmade Japanese paper and host of the Zen Sammich podcast. Going to read The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham. Because the main character's internal moral challenges and the battle with societal expectations are compelling for me to read about and contemplate. Mark O'Brien is the founder and principal of O'Brien Communications Group, a B2B brand-management and marketing-communications firm, and host of The Anxious Voyage, a syndicated radio show about life's trials and triumphs. Going to read Lyrical and Critical Essays by Albert Camus. Because as a longtime fan of Camus' existential work, I look forward to stretching my thick Irish noggin to let in a tad more light – as I always try to do. Hope Blecher is an educational consultant and the founder of Hope's Compass, www.HopesCompass.org, a non-profit that helps members of the community and visitors to interact with survivors of the Holocaust and children of survivors through arts, music, poetry, prose, and more. Going to (re)read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exuperty. Because I experience something new each time I read it. And Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell. Because I'm curious about what these authors will say that will help me continue on my own pathway of exploring art. Christine Mason is the Cultivating Resilience podcast co-host, educational psychologist researcher, entrepreneur, and yoga instructor/mindfulness coach. Going to read From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas L. Friedman. Because Friedman knows the region exceptionally well, this book will provide me with a greater understanding of the underlying regional and religious tensions and conflicts and also prepare me to lead others in a deeper discussion toward a potential resolution and peace. Tammy Hader is a retired accountant, a lifetime Kansan, a storyteller, a caregiver, and an author. (See above.) Going to read Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam. Because our relationships – our social capital – continue to be degraded in the current environment, so I want to study it, defend against it, and learn how to shift myself and my community into improved connections. Cindy House is the author of Mother Noise, a memoir about her recovery from addiction. She is a regular opener for David Sedaris on his book lecture circuit. She is also my memoir instructor. Going to read Art Monster: Unruly Bodies in Feminist Art by Lauren Elkin. Because the book looks at women artists and their work as a reaction against the patriarchy. In these days of watching the GOP war against women, it seems especially important as a woman in the arts to consider how my work can be a protest against extreme political positions. Susan Rooks – the Grammar Goddess – is an editor/proofreader who helps nonfiction/business content authors of books/blogs/websites and podcasters and their episode transcriptions look and sound as smart as they are. Going to read Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD. Because as I age, I'm interested in doing everything I can to stay alive in a healthy manner. Steve Ehrlich is a lifelong educator and has an equally long-standing calling in fly fishing. He combines those two loves in classes on the lessons of fly fishing and its treasured literature for personal and professional growth, renewal and healing, and social change. Going to read An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong. Because I've always been intrigued by the interconnectedness of things, especially the things we can't fully understand. Such a mystery is at the heart of this book, which is about how animals are connected to one another in so many ways and in a manner that most of us have difficulty comprehending. Annette Taylor is a rogue researcher of evolutionary psychology. Going to finish We Are Electric by Sally Adee – but doing so scares me... Because it seems like the author is justifying our "merging" with AI or at least romanticizing our ever increasing entanglements with technology. And since I like to simplify life using a cave-dweller perspective, this idea freaks me out. Leon Ikler is a commercial photographer primarily shooting tabletop and small room scenes in the studio along with a mix of location work. Going to read Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson. Because in these contentious times with the nation so divided, I like how she frames today's issues against what has taken place in the past. I feel it is essential to know our history so we can try to avoid making the same mistakes again. Rita Grant is a former award-winning video producer. Going to reread The United States of Arugula by David Kamp. Because it's a great reminder of how our current American culinary landscape was created. I'm ending with Rita because she also sent in another suggestion. Not a book, but a song – "You Can't Take That Away From Me," sung by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. As Rita noted, "The lyrics will stand the test of time. They're a testament to what we hold in our hearts and imagination that can never be taken from us."

Summary "Getting Unstuck" is somewhat of a rare animal in the world of podcasting. It's offered timely content focused on change, education, and curiosity for over 5 years and sits in the top 3% of all podcasts. 44% of all podcasts have less than 3 episodes, according to two tracking sources. Most podcasts don't make it past 10 episodes. Conversely, we just passed the 300-episode milestone, which is somewhat of a magic marker for podcasts. As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to thank my listeners and recap 2023 in three parts: 1. the top episodes in terms of downloads, 2. the episode that meant the most to me, and 3 my most popular episode over the life of the podcast. The episodes in 2023 that garnered the most listener attention What follows are the top downloaded episodes for 2023. Not surprisingly, each of the five episodes focused on the major themes I emphasize in the podcast: overcoming personal resistance, recognizing and taking advantage of serendipity, defining a new purpose of education, experiencing the meditative aspect of fly fishing and the natural world, and the power of curiosity. Here, then, is a short description of these five episodes: 250 - How a Life-Altering Event Can Still Mean A Rich Life, Fulfilling Life Rick Locke is an excellent example of someone who literally had to look at life from a different angle. While he was losing his central vision due to macular degeneration, he could still see out of the corner of his eye. And that, as it turns out, was the lens through which he could see – and share – a whole new world of wonder. 249 - How to Become All-in as a Solopreneur April Vokey couldn't help but look at life from a different angle. From a very early age, April loved fishing and hunting. She decided to shun more traditional work and instead start a business where she would guide, provide instructional courses, write, be a keynote speaker, and host a podcast on all things related to her fishing interests, all while becoming a wife and mother. Her decision also came with the expected challenges — and one challenge that men doing the same work never face. 239 - What is the Purpose of School? In this episode, educator, author, and futurist Rhonda Broussard and I touch on various reasons for our K-12 system of schooling. Is it to prepare students for a career, acquire knowledge and skills, or develop creative thinking and problem-solving abilities? And what about student agency? How much voice and choice should we allow students to determine what and how they want to learn? 246 - Dr. Christian Busch on Connecting Life's Dots Going Forward Steve Jobs famously said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward." Today's guest, Christian Busch, Ph.D., would respectfully disagree. He writes, "Serendipity is not just about a coincidence that happens to us, but it is actually through the process of spotting and connecting the dots that we start to see bridges where others see gaps." 253 - How Can You Reframe Your Inner Story to Create a Healthier Reality? Valerie Gordon is a 10-time Emmy-winning television producer with over 20 years of developing and overseeing award-winning content. She knows what makes a story meaningful and memorable and the incredible power of stories to engage, educate, and entertain. And she's detailed how we can tell a healthier personal story – and overcome our inner narrator – in her highly readable book, FIRE YOUR NARRATOR: A Storyteller's Guide to Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Life. The 2023 episode that meant the most to me This episode grew from my experience traveling to Berlin and Amsterdam this past fall to immerse myself in local aspects of the Holocaust. Here, I traveled to Wannsee, Germany, a suburb of Berlin, where on January 20, 1942, 15 high-ranking Nazis gathered in a villa to resolve various aspects of the "final solution of the Jewish problem." As a Jew, standing in the room where the Nazis met was a chilling experience in its own right, but it was made more so because Adolf Eichmann had been one of the Nazis attending. 268 - Getting the Best Revenge Standing Inside the Room My most popular episode over the 5-year life of the podcast And finally, I wanted to acknowledge that episode 201 - "Learning About Life and Leadership from a Fly Fishing Guide," remains the runaway listener favorite over the podcast's life. Initially, I was nervous about posting an episode about fly fishing, but my conversation with guide Spencer Seim was anything but what one might expect. It wasn't about the technical aspects of fly fishing; it was about how Spencer approaches his clients every day as a leader. So, I think the focus on leadership played well, but that said, I've done a number of episodes since related to fly fishing, including #2 in this year's top 5, and they were all well received. Who knew? 201 - Learning About Life and Leadership from a Fly Fishing Guide

Guests Mary Nadeau has worked at Nokomis Regional High as a teacher and administrator for the past 32 years. She has served as the Principal for the past 15 years. Nick Miller is a member of the English department. Summary Our conversation explored how fly fishing, a seemingly unconventional activity in schools, can be woven into the fabric of education. We delved into the significance of the sport, its potential as an English elective, and its role in empowering student voice and choice. The discussion highlighted the innovative approach of a Maine high school that utilizes fly fishing to foster curiosity, personal growth, and a unique learning experience, challenging traditional educational models. Ultimately, it paints a picture of education where passions like fly fishing can become catalysts for deeper learning and holistic development. Social Media / Referenced Nokomis Regional High School K-12Dive article featuring Nic and Mary A River Runs Through It Podcast episode on fly fishing literature

Summary Our conversation centered on the need to address the misconceptions surrounding homelessness and the importance of individual and collective action to create positive change. We emphasized the value of education and awareness in dismantling harmful stereotypes and empowering individuals to support those experiencing homelessness. By opening our hearts and minds, we can foster a more compassionate and inclusive society. My Guests Peggy Wilms is the founder of award-winning All Things Wellness, an entrepreneur, author, host of The Coach Peggy Show, and wellness retreat host, educator, and speaker. She is a certified personal trainer, sports performance nutritionist, and personal and executive health, wellness, and life coach for nearly 35 years. Dennis Pitocco is the Founder and Chief ReImaginator of 360° Nation encompasses a publishing enterprise; the award-winning BIZCATALYST 360°, a multimedia enterprise; 360° Nation Studios, and a social enterprise, GoodWorks 360°. Social Media Unsheltered landing page Unsheltered FAQ Interview guide

Guest Andrew Sachs is the CEO and Founder of Nobel Learning. Nobel helps learners get the technical, soft, and leadership skills they need to succeed in work and life in today's quickly changing world. Summary In this episode – which is an update of episode #122 where Andrew and I first talked – we focus on the need to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in school, life, and the ever-changing job market. We discussed the role of technology in education and the value of youth-led projects and collaboration. We also explored the challenges of education reform and the need to find ways to make traditional education more relevant to today's students. One of Andrew's most profound ideas was, "If you want kids to lead, let them learn to make decisions. Let them make decisions. And let them make mistakes." Social Media/Referenced Nobel Learning

My Guest Dennis Behnke provides individual and group tours of Berlin and German history, focusing on World War II and the Cold War. Summary / Key Topics My conversation with Dennis focused on the importance of history education, particularly in understanding World War II and its lasting impact. We discussed the challenges and opportunities of teaching history in a way that is both accurate and engaging, and we highlighted the significance of personal stories and memorials in bringing history to life. We also explored the issue of anti-Semitism and its relevance to the Holocaust, emphasizing the need to learn from the past to prevent such atrocities from happening again. Social Media Berlin Storyteller website/tours Dennis's email

The Takeaway In this episode, I travel to Berlin, Germany, and the Bebelplatz, a large square in the city's heart. A university borders one side, a church another, and the opera another. Behind me is one of Berlin's main libraries. Sitting atop one of the buildings is an outdoor bar with large colorful umbrellas to shield the patrons. As calming as the setting is today, it was anything but on the night of May 10, 1933. There, a mob of Nazis, Nazi-leaning students, and citizens gathered to burn an estimated 20,000 books the Nazi regime had deemed culturally and spiritually unfit. The only visual evidence of that event is a subterranean memorial with enough empty library shelves to hold an estimated 20,000 books. Social Media / References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empty_Library#:~:text=The%20Empty%20Library%20(1995)%2C,Germany%20on%20May%2010%2C%201933. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebelplatz