Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

The Takeaway In this episode, I trace the mental and physical journey I took recently in the Netherlands to grasp the murder of more than one hundred thousand Dutch Jews during WWII at the hands of the Nazis. I wanted to move beyond the number and get to the human beings. Physically, the journey took me to several Holocaust-related sites in Amsterdam: the old Jewish Quarter, the Anne Frank House (Annex), the old Dutch Theatre, the Dutch Holocaust Memorial, and of high interest, the sidewalks of Amsterdam. And outside Amsterdam: the Westerbork transit camp. Part of my mental journey involved moving beyond the human tendency to see Anne Frank as symbolic of all Dutch Jews who were murdered. But the larger mental issue was confronting the remnants of hate I saw and how they drove me toward hate.

Guest Mike Magee is President of Minerva University since April 2022. Prior to joining Minerva, he was the founding CEO of Chiefs for Change, a non-profit organization supporting leaders of many of the nation's largest and most innovative K-12 public education systems. Previously, Magee co-founded and was CEO of Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA). As CEO of RIMA, he built a statewide network of regional, racially, and economically diverse public schools while successfully advocating for sweeping changes to stat education policy. Before starting RIMA, Magee taught American literature and philosophy for a decade at Haverford College, Wheaton College, and the Rhode Island School of Design. In 2004, his book, Emancipating Pragmatism won the Elizabeth Agee Prize in American Studies. He is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow and for the past several years, has moderated seminars for both the Pahara Institute and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Magee holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's in political science and English from the College of the Holy Cross. Summary In this episode, Minerva University president Mike Magee and I explore why the school has been ranked the #1 innovative university in the U.S., which is initially evidenced by its unique invitation to apply for admission where prospective applicants are challenged to complete a puzzle. The deeper answer lies in Minerva's approach to education and people development. Listen for how its approach encompasses global cultural immersion, active learning, interdisciplinary curriculum, project-based learning, and a commitment to developing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, ethical orientation, and diverse perspectives for successful workforce preparation — and of equal importance, the social and emotional development of its students. Links/References Mike at LinkedIn minerva.edu

My guest Renée Smith, MSOD (she/her) is the founder and CEO of A Human Workplace, a global movement and consultancy committed to making work more human. She led award-winning culture work as a state executive and served in the Governor's Office as Director of Workplace Transformation for the State of Washington. Smith is a researcher, writer, and speaker who's reached hundreds of audiences worldwide, making the business case for a human workplace. Summary In Part 2 of this episode, Renée and I explored the antidote to fear in the workplace: love. Love can manifest itself in various ways in professional settings: > Leaders providing genuine care for employees by showing interest and respect and by creating an environment of belonging > Workgroups functioning like a family – team building and acknowledgment of accomplishments > Supporting individuals during personal crises. Other critical considerations for a love-based culture include > Sustainability, as new employees join the organization and the challenge of leadership turnover. > Screening job candidates for their capacity for love. > Leading with human-centered messaging. Social Links Websites AHumanWorkplace.com (Company) MakeWorkMoreHuman.com/blogposts LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneesmith-ahumanworkplace/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-human-workplace/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reneesmithspeaks/ https://www.instagram.com/ahumanworkplace/ Referenced The Amari Wave

My guest Renée Smith, MSOD (she/her) is the founder and CEO of A Human Workplace, a global movement and consultancy committed to making work more human. She led award-winning culture work as a state executive and served in the Governor's Office as Director of Workplace Transformation for the State of Washington. Smith is a researcher, writer, and speaker who's reached hundreds of audiences worldwide, making the business case for a human workplace. Summary Renée and I discussed her journey into organizational development and why she started her organization, A Human Workplace, which aims to eliminate fear in the workplace. Through her research, Renée discovered various fear stories, including > uncertainty after a change initiative, > toxic experiences through betrayal and loss of trust, and > public shaming, harassment, and discrimination. These fear experiences can originate from leaders and team members and have significant physical and emotional consequences for individuals. Fear-based cultures can also have detrimental effects on organizations, such as reduced productivity and higher turnover rates. Social Links Websites AHumanWorkplace.com (Company) MakeWorkMoreHuman.com/blogposts LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneesmith-ahumanworkplace/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-human-workplace/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reneesmithspeaks/ https://www.instagram.com/ahumanworkplace/ Referenced The Asshole Survival Guide The No Asshole Rule

The Takeaway In this episode, I share thoughts about a tour I recently took in the Hurtgen Forest World War II battlefield, which sits between Belgium and Germany. The Hurtgen Forest was the site of the longest battle the U.S. Army engaged in during World War II, and it is widely considered an egregious failure of strategy and leadership. I wanted to understand why the battle was fought, what elements challenged the U.S. Army's progress, and what lessons we could take away from a battle that incurred 30,000 to 50,000 casualties (deaths and wounded).

Guest Kirk Wallace Johnson is the author of The Fishermen and the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast, The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century, and To Be a Friend is Fatal: the Fight to Save the Iraqis America Left Behind, which covers his efforts on behalf of Iraqi refugees as the founder of the List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies. Summary Our conversations explored several important topics in Kirk's life: • Why Kirk became passionate about supporting Iraqis who helped America during the Iraqi war gain entry into the U.S. and how that experience led to creating the "List Project" and his first book, To Be a Friend is Fatal. • How he found solace in fly fishing, which led to meeting fly fishing guide Spencer Seim and his writing of The Feather Thief, the story of a million-dollar theft of dead rare birds from the British Museum. • How a Bruce Springsteen song led Kirk to research a conflict between Vietnamese immigrants and the Ku Klux Klan along the Texas Gulf Coast and how Diane Wilson, an environmental activist, took on the corporations that were polluting the water. • Why educational restrictions on certain content stand in the way of helping youth to develop critical thinking. Links/References Kirk on "This American Life" • 499: Taking Names https://www.thisamericanlife.org/499/taking-names • 607: Didn't We Solve This One https://www.thisamericanlife.org/607/didnt-we-solve-this-one/act-two-1 • 654: The Feather Heist https://www.thisamericanlife.org/654/transcript • 745: Getting Out https://www.thisamericanlife.org/745/transcript Interview with the fly-fishing guide, Spencer Seim https://www.queticocoaching.com/blog/2021/11/29/getting-unstuck-200-life-and-leadership-from-a-fly-fishing-guide

Guest Bernard Beitman, M.D. is the first psychiatrist since Carl Jung to systematize the study of coincidences. A graduate of Yale Medical School, he did his psychiatric residency at Stanford University. The former chair of psychiatry at the University of Missouri-Columbia medical school for 17 years, he writes a blog for Psychology Today on coincidence. He is the author of Meaningful Coincidences: How and Why Synchronicity and Serendipity Matter, and the co-author of the award-winning book Learning Psychotherapy. The founder of The Coincidence Project, he lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Summary Our conversation explored a number of questions: • Why it is beneficial to pay attention to coincidences. • The difference between synchronicity and serendipity. • Obstacle to acting on triggers • How telepathy works. • The nature of simulpathity. • How the psycho-sphere is likely to function. • The relationship between coincidence and prayer. • How agency – free will, making personal choices – is essential when it comes to understanding and leveraging meaningful coincidence. Links/References Website: https://coincider.com/ Podcast: https://www.coincider.com/podcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBeitman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coincider?fref=nf Instagram: bernardbeitmanmd Trout Unlimited video: https://www.tu.org/scot-simmons-the-studio/

Guest A veteran San Francisco radio broadcaster, Joanne Greene currently hosts two podcasts - "All the F Words", in which two writer friends nearly 30 years apart explore issues that begin with the letter "F" and "In This Story…." Joanne's 3-minute essays, set to music. In June 2023 she publishes By Accident: A Memoir of Letting Go, her inspiring and growth-filled memoir through and emergence from life-threatening calamities. Summary In this episode, Joanne shares her life before and after a traumatic accident where she was hit by a truck while crossing the street. Three key discussion points emerged from our conversation. • Firstly, Joanne reflects on her fast-paced lifestyle as a means of distraction and how her parents' upbringing influenced her need to prove herself and be a provider. • Secondly, she delves into her decision to write a memoir, exploring the process of discovering its focus, the challenges of transitioning from a career in radio to writing, and the lessons she learned along the way, such as patience and controlling one's response to challenges. • Lastly, Joanne discusses the universal takeaways from her memoir, emphasizing the power of gratitude, the support of her family, and the blessings in her life. References/Links www.Joanne-Greene.com https://www.instagram.com/joannergreene/ https://www.facebook.com/joanne.greene.984/ @JoanneRGreene on Twitter

Guest Mark Reid is host of the "Zen Sammich" podcast and a maker of traditional handmade Japanese paper, called washi, where he lives in Yamaguchi, Japan. Before that he was an attorney, beginning his career as an Assistant District Attorney in New York. He's also been a professor of English at three universities in Japan and a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University in Religious Studies. Summary In this episode, we discuss • Why Mark left the practice of law and moved to Japan to make paper. • The origins and purpose of Mark's podcast, "Zen Sammich." • The importance of Mark's morning ritual. • How to calm your mind in an anxious situation. • An easy way to cultivate patience. References/Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/zen-sammich/

Guest Jennifer Jane Young is an Intuitive Business & Leadership Advisor and Founder of The School of Intuitive Leadership. She helps entrepreneurs and leaders find the path of least resistance, make the biggest impact and create sustainable, aligned success through intuitive leadership. Jennifer is also the author of the forthcoming book, Say Yes to Your Yes – How to trust your gut and take the leap in business (and life) Summary The conversation explored the concept of intuitive leadership, which involves tapping into one's inner wisdom and aligning it with personal goals. Jennifer highlighted the universality of intuition and the importance of practicing it through mindful reflection. We also discussed the "School of Intuitive Leadership," which supports individuals in taking intuitive action within a community. Jennifer shared personal experiences of embracing the unknown and growing through creativity and mindfulness. Finally, we discussed following intuitive nudges and making meaningful connections in life. References/Links http://instagram.com/jennifer.jane.young https://www.facebook.com/theschoolofintuitiveleadership http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-jane-young http://twitter.com/jennyjaneyoung https://youtube.com/@theschoolofintuitiveleadership