Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Summary This week, something different. As we approach Thanksgiving, I find myself in a contemplative mood. So, I'm solo this week, starting what could become a lengthy exercise that will have me unwrapping and considering the package that is my life in 15 crossroad moments. Talk about being curious. Jeff's Crossroad Topics Punching the clock: newspapers, groceries, and dishes Book of the Month Club Earning my keep at home Neighborhood explorer The U-505: life foreshadowed in a German submarine Montana: killing spiders, stacking wood, and landing on the moon Discovering agency: a sawdust puppet, no more model airplanes, and a road trip The last parking meter Quetico: biting insects, muddy portages, and reflections A vision on a staircase "No" and a box of chocolates Coached Perfection and Da Vinci's "Last Supper" A conversation in a small café in Vermont Death and Decluttering

My Guest Susan Engel is a professor at Williams College, where she teaches courses on developmental psychology and education. Her research interests include children's curiosity, invention, and ideas. She is currently working on a book about Kindergarten in America. Summary / Key Topics Lifelong learning and curiosity are essential for a thriving society. They allow us to adapt to change, solve problems, and create new opportunities. Yet, curiosity is often overlooked in education, leading to a decline in curiosity among children. There are many ways to foster curiosity in children. One is to create a learning environment that is safe and supportive, where children feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. Another is to provide children with opportunities to explore their interests and learn at their own pace. Finally, it is important to model curiosity by showing children we are always learning and growing. Curiosity is valuable in education because it motivates students to learn and helps them to develop critical thinking skills. Curious students are more likely to ask questions, investigate problems, and develop creative solutions. They are also more likely to be engaged in learning and retain information. Education should nurture students' curiosity, helping them to become lifelong learners. This can be done by providing students with opportunities to learn about the world around them, develop their problem-solving skills, and connect with their own interests. Resources / Social Media The Hungry Mind: The Origins of Curiosity The Hungry Mind: Psychologist Susan Engel's Call To Arms | WBUR News / The Intellectual Lives of Children Why Should This Be So? with Susan Engel - CHOOSE TO BE CURIOUS Susan Engel - Psychology https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jan/28/schools-killing-curiosity-learn https://elimindset.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/engel2011.pdf Neil DeGrasse Tyson George Land study

My Guests Bill Whiteside is a sales and marketing executive turned software salesman turned lay historian turned narrative nonfiction writer. He is the author of an engaging memoir, Everyone Knows a Salesman Can't Write A Book, and to further debunk the myth that he can't write, he's finishing up a much-anticipated book about a little-known incident in Winston Churchill's tenure as Britain's Prime Minister during World War II. After completing an undergraduate degree in history and political science at Simon Fraser University, Paul McNicholls spent a career in insurance claims investigation. When nearing retirement, he was approached by the UK publisher Helion and Company, and the result was his first book "Journey Through the Wilderness." He is now writing "Canadians on the Veldt," which chronicles Canada's role during the South African War between 1899 and 1902. In 2021, Paul received the Howard Browne Medal from the Victorian Military Society. Summary History is the story of our humanity – and inhumanity – and is essential for understanding our present and shaping our future. In this podcast, our two lay historians discuss the importance of history and memoir writing through a study of Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets by Burkhard Bilger. In this discussion, we explore the complexity of historical figures' actions and motivations and the importance of writing histories with personal stories and critical analysis. Throughout the podcast, the authors share their writing and research techniques and reflect on the ways in which history, war, and personal growth can all intersect. This podcast is an informative exploration of the human condition, and it will appeal to anyone interested in history, memoir, or the power of storytelling. Topics in this episode The appeal of history and writing books. (2:27) History and its importance in understanding society. (6:22) A family history book set during WWII. (8:48) Nazi history, current events, and personal perspectives. (15:31) The complexity of a historical figure's actions and motivations. (18:00) Writing histories with personal stories and strategic analysis. (19:58) Winston Churchill's actions during World War II. (24:31) Writing, character flaws, and personal curiosity. (29:16) History and politics with a focus on the first half of the 20th century. (34:19) Nazis meeting to manage the "final solution" of Jews. (35:44) History, gray areas, and personal stories. (39:06) Referenced Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets Social Media Links Bill LinkedIn Website Twitter Spoutible (bwhiteside3@gmail.com) Paul LinkedIn

My guest Kate Jackson is the principal at Enso Wellbeing Coaching, where she works with individuals and organizations to enhance leadership, culture, communication, productivity, retention, and, ultimately, well-being. Kate is also co-author of Flyfishing - A Pathway to Wellbeing and offers workshops to individuals and business teams at Margo and Lola Flyfishing School in Ellsworth, WI. Summary The real story in this episode is how Kate's personal experiences – divorce, stage 4 cancer, and an initial career in the corporate world – came together to inform how she approaches her work as a well-being coach and consultant. She speaks with hard-earned authenticity and an awareness that her message of well-being and its potential benefits must be expressed in a language that business leaders and teams are willing to hear. Key Topics Social Media Links / Referenced LinkedIn Website Book Article on her health and well-being Work at Simms Video referencing her mental health work at Simms:

My Guest June Hersh began her food writing career in 2004. Her mantra is Eat Well-Do Good, and to that end, she writes books with a charitable flavor. Her first was Recipes Remembered, a Celebration of Survival (Ruder Finn Press May 2011), written in association with and to benefit the Museum of Jewish Heritage - a Living memorial to the Holocaust. The book is a collection of stories and recipes from June's interviews with over 100 Holocaust survivors. This November, a new edition of her first book will be released by The History Press under the title Food, Hope & Resilience: Authentic Recipes and Remarkable Stories from Holocaust Survivors. The esteemed chef Daniel Boulud penned the foreword. Proceeds will benefit Holocaust organizations. June has also written The Kosher Carnivore (St. Martin's Press November 2011), Still Here, Inspiration from Survivors and Liberators of the Holocaust (Brian Marcus, 2015), Yoghurt a Global History (Reaktion Books 2021 and Iconic New York Jewish Food, a History and Guide with Recipes (The History Press, February 2023). Summary Jewish food is a vibrant and diverse cuisine with a rich history, especially in New York City. June Hersh's book, "Iconic New York Jewish Food," explores this culinary landscape, focusing on the bagel, a beloved New York icon. Hersh examines the history, craftsmanship, and cultural significance of the bagel, as well as its role in Jewish food culture and traditions. Topics in this episode Food writing, Holocaust recipes, and Jewish food heritage. (4:40) Jewish food traditions and recipe preservation. (10:16) The history and cultural significance of bagels. (16:43) The history and culture of New York-style bagels. (20:49) The origins of bagels and lox in New York City. (28:44) Jewish food culture and traditions. (34:09) History, context, and food with June Hersh. (39:57) Food, history, and culture with a focus on Jewish cuisine. (42:48) Social Media Links She invites you to email her at junehersh@gmail.com, follow her on Instagram and Facebook @junehersh, or visit her website www.junehersh.com

Summary In this special edition of Getting Unstuck — Cultivating Curiosity, I rotate the mic and tell a story where, with help from a dear friend, Sarah Elkins, and some self-reflection, I extricated myself from "stuckville." About Sarah Elkins "Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision." In her work with coaching clients, Sarah guides people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What she's realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don't realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages and on the people they're sharing them with. Her work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on her podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and home. Sarah is the author of Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will. Referenced Elkins Consulting Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life The Work

Summary This is part 2 of my conversation with two very smart guys, Wade Bruffey and Zoltan Sarda, the co-founders of GoMobi.work, a partnership-driven software company that helps organizations build and optimize their employee development program. They bring 30 years of experience working with teams and individuals to help people grow and succeed. Organizations using GoMobi.work's frameworks build systems that foster clarity, empower high performance, and help team members take aligned actions. With GoMobi.work, organizations create transformation that lasts. In Episode 274, I interviewed Wade and Zoltan. In this episode, they interviewed me for their podcast. Both interviews evolved into deep conversations about hiring practices, organizational purpose and culture, and leadership. Topics in this episode Intuition, leadership, and decision-making. (1:34) Interviewing techniques and storytelling in the workplace. (8:53) Leadership, storytelling, and building a culture. (13:45) Leadership, coaching, and change management in the workplace. (20:34) Using data to inform business decisions. (27:16) Data-driven decision-making and leadership. (29:32) Education assessment and coaching. (32:45) Reflection on business and personal growth. (35:53) The importance of reflection and taking time to think in leadership growth. (38:14) Aligning actions with espoused theories in business and coaching. (39:40) Reflective capacity and coaching in business. (40:51) Leadership, teamwork, and organizational obstacles. (45:52) Social Media Links Website: www.GoMobi.work LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gomobi-work Register for GoMobi's free weekly management workshops: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoceqrpzstHNMm18b3k2wKyu7znBOBar-- Sign up to be a part of GoMobi's software launch: https://gomobi.work/beta-signup Jeff's book: Shifting - How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change

Guest Jeanne Gutierrez is a Curatorial Scholar in Women's History at the New-York Historical Society. She is a Ph.D. candidate in History at the CUNY Graduate Center. Jeanne is the co-curator of the NYHS "Women's Work" exhibit. Summary In this episode, Jeanne takes me behind the scenes at the New-York Historical Society to understand the collaborative thinking and effort that goes into curating a major museum exhibit, in this case, "Women's Work." From the Museum's exhibit program description: "What is "women's work?" How have broad trends in American economic, legal, and political history encouraged women to take certain jobs and restricted them from "men's work?" How have race, ethnicity, social class, legal status, sexual orientation, and gender presentation impacted these distinctions? In a new exhibition, the Center for Women's History showcases approximately 45 objects from New-York Historical's own Museum and Library collections to demonstrate how "women's work" defies categorization." Listen for: • What story the curatorial staff is trying to tell about the nature of women's work. • Why collaboration between curators, scholars, and designers is essential. • How the limited number of artifacts were selected and challenged the team. • Why the staff had to limit the artifact captions to about 100 words. • How the intentional organization and display of artifacts contribute to the story and visitor experience. Social Media / Referenced • https://www.nyhistory.org/ • Missionary Rag Baby, 1893–1910

My Guest Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer Lang lives in Tel Aviv, where she runs israelwriterstudio.com. Her prize-winning essays appear in Baltimore Review, Under the Sun, Midway Journal, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Assistant Editor at Brevity Journal. She is a longtime yoga practitioner and instructor. She has two unconventional books forthcoming, Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature (9/5/23) and Landed: A yogi's memoir in pieces & poses (10/15/24), both with Vine Leaves Press. Summary In this episode, Jennifer and Jeff explore Jennifer's memoir, Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature. They delve into Jennifer's deliberate choice of format, which serves to craft emotional impact through a concise narrative of only 13,000 words. The memoir encapsulates Jennifer's family life in New York, California, and Israel and explores themes of conflict, commitment, belonging, and the meaning of home. Therapy and yoga emerge as Jennifer's anchors, aiding her in marital challenges. Philippe, her husband, gains insight into her journey through her memoir. The main takeaway for readers is to hold onto their voice and remain true to themselves in the midst of the partnership of marriage. Social Media Links instagram.com/jenlangwrites facebook.com/jenlangwrites facebook.com/israelwriterstudio

My guest Spencer Seim (rhymes with "time") lives a life devoted to fishing, environmental issues, and serving people. Since he was 8 years old, Spencer has been obsessed with fly fishing. Spencer has been guiding northern New Mexico and southern Colorado for eighteen years. Eight years ago, he founded ZiaFly, a guide service that focuses on a personalized fishing experience with access to some of the best trout fisheries in the Rockies. Spencer is also very well-versed in fly tying. He's tied flies commercially, for art, for competitions and of course, for his guided trips. Spencer's flies have been featured in The Drake magazine, New York Times, Kirk W. Johnson's book The Feather Thief, and America's Favorite Flies. Spencer has been mentioned in This American Life, Smithsonian Magazine, and Outside Magazine. The Takeaway Life typically moves along at a fast pace for most of us. By the end of the day, activities we've been engaged in are often a murky blur in our rearview mirror. What, then, might be the payoff in slowing down, observing, and reading the environmental water, say, like a fly fisherman? And how do we give ourselves the ability to hold onto and make sense of those moments of pure serendipity? As you listen What is it that drew Spencer to the water and fly fishing? What life lessons can we take away from the fly fisherman's need to observe and immerse him or herself in the trout's environment? How did Spencer get involved in the mystery surrounding the disappearance of almost 300 rare bird skins that could be used to tie salmon flies? What is the underlying story of The Feather Thief? How does Kirk Johnson's decision to write the story rest on one of those rare moments of serendipity in life? How does Spencer distinguish himself as a guide? How does he demonstrate differentiated servant leadership? How does he view guiding as being part of a team? Connect with Spencer ZiaFly website Referenced Home Waters by John Maclean A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean The Element by Sir Ken Robinson Finding Your Element by Sir Ken Robinson