Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Summary An artist's rendering of Apollo 8 as it photographs "Earthrise." This episode reflects on the Apollo 8 mission's iconic "Earthrise" image in late December 1968 and the turbulent year that preceded it. It highlights enduring lessons on inequality, collective problem-solving, and environmental stewardship. The episode urges renewed respect for history and a commitment to addressing modern challenges with the same ingenuity that defined the space race. Three Takeaways Historical Literacy: The mission symbolizes humanity's capacity for courage, teamwork, and ingenuity, offering hope and a sense of shared accomplishment amidst turmoil. Historical Inequality: The unresolved issues of racial, gender, and economic inequities persist, echoing the divisions of 1968. Environmental Responsibility: "Earthrise" underscores the planet's fragility, emphasizing the need for collective stewardship over self-interest. About Jeff Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. "Quetico" (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government. Jeff has hosted the "Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity" podcast for 5 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider. He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness. Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change.

Summary In this episode, I reflect on how books have impacted my life and why standing up to book censorship is essential. Given my interest in books, I was curious to know what some of my colleagues, friends, and family members read in 2024 and what they will read in 2025. So, I contacted more than 40 of them, asking them for a brief bio, their books of choice, and why a given title found its way to their bookshelf and nightstand. See their suggestions below. Three Major Takeaways Books as Lifelong Companions: Jeff's "next" shelf symbolizes curiosity, learning, and discovery throughout life. Reading as Resistance: Championing books combats censorship and fosters critical thinking. Power of Storytelling: Great books connect us to history, nature, and universal truths, shaping perspectives and fostering empathy.

Summary Next February, Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity will start its seventh year. I try to offer timely and, I trust, interesting guests and content on leading effective change in education and business and cultivating curiosity about a wide variety of topics, including space exploration, art, history, the environment, personal development, purpose setting, writing, racism and anti-Semitism, selling, cooking, and, of course, fly fishing. Getting Unstuck Cultivating—Curiosity still ranks in the top 3 percent of all podcasts globally. Currently. just over 4 million options are vying for your ears' attention. We just published our 341st episode, which is notable given that most podcasts don't reach ten episodes. As we approach the end of the year, I want to thank you, my listeners. I wouldn't be able to continue doing this show without your interest and support. Thank you. A special thanks goes to my engineer, Neil Hughes. He manages all the back-end publishing logistics and makes every episode sound professional. He also welcomes me to pull up a virtual chair for periodic emotional therapy when needed. To say I would be lost without him doesn't begin to do his services justice. I'm going to recap 2024 in three parts: Part One, the episodes that you listened to the most. Part Two, all the episodes were important, but one was particularly special to me. Part Three, my most popular episode over the life of the podcast.

Guest 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 the story of Donald Montgomery who served with the Canadian Corps in the First World War. He moved to Vancouver in 1908 and was the older brother by one year of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. In 2021, Paul received the Howard Browne Medal from the Victorian Military Society. Summary In this episode, Jeff and Paul explore the historical significance of World War II's Battle of the Bulge, coinciding with its 80th anniversary. Paul explains Hitler's campaign goals, including his desire to split the American and British alliances and capture the port of Antwerp. Jeff provides the context for some of the events leading to the battle: the Allied breakout from the Normandy beaches, the Ally's ill-fated Market Garden campaign, and the disastrous Battle of the Hurtgen Forest. Their conversation also focuses on the challenges of the harsh winter conditions, the U.S.'s initial troop limitations, and the German force's need for fuel. The conversation also highlights lesser-known stories, such as the Malmedy Massacre and the brutal realities faced by soldiers in the Ardennes. Paul and Jeff share their experiences walking historic battlefields and how physically visiting these sites provides a deeper understanding of history's emotional and human elements. The discussion concludes with reflections on the importance of preserving these stories and their enduring lessons about leadership, resilience, and the cost of conflict. Three Takeaways Battlefield Lessons: The Battle of the Bulge illustrates the significance of tactical decisions, resource limitations, and the human cost of war in shaping history. Emotional Connection to History: Walking historic battlefields fosters a deeper understanding of the physical and emotional challenges the soldiers faced. Preserving Stories for the Future: Sharing lesser-known events, like the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest and the Malmedy Massacre, deepens the public's understanding of the critical lessons of history. Social Media LinkedIn Referenced The Malmady Massacre: The War Crimes Trial Controversy by Steven Remy When Senator Joe McCarthy Defended the Nazis Smithsonian July 2020 Rachel Maddow Ultra Season 2 The Boys' Crusade by Paul Fussell Voices of the Bulge by Michael Collins and Martin King About Jeff Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. "Quetico" (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government. Jeff has hosted the "Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity" podcast for 5 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider. He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness. Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change.

Guest Luann Horobin is one of 1700 ICF Master Coaches who serves clients as an Executive and Leadership Transformational Coach and Consultant. Having been raised on a farm, the core values of work and community have been her guiding life principles. Yet, when facing life and career transitions, a pivotal point was learning how to achieve ambitions, not by working harder but by adopting a different mindset. Luann's dive into the science of transformation led to her customized coaching of breakthroughs that achieve ambitions, make better decisions, and put zest into life without stress. Summary In this episode, Jeff speaks with Luann Horobin, a coach specializing in mindset, neuro coaching, and vertical development (see below). Luanne explains how understanding brain chemistry and mindset shifts can help individuals overcome inner resistance and unlock their potential. She introduces the concepts of the "red brain" (triggered by stress and fear) and the "green brain" (fostering creativity and decision-making) to illustrate how words and feedback impact brain function. Luann emphasizes the importance of reframing resistance as feedback and highlights the power of vertical development, which shifts underlying thought patterns to achieve lasting growth. They also explore combating ageism and rediscovering personal values, encouraging listeners to focus on their unique strengths and contributions. Three Takeaways Reframing Resistance: Recognizing resistance as feedback can help individuals shift their mindset and embrace growth opportunities. Vertical Development: vertical development refers to the process of fundamentally transforming the way we think, perceive, and approach challenges rather than just adding new tools, skills, information, or knowledge, which defines horizontal development. Combating Ageism: Focusing on personal strengths and unique contributions helps combat limiting beliefs and rediscover value at any stage of life. Social Media LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/luannhorobin

Guest Laura Bakosh, Ph.D., is a mindfulness teacher, published researcher, and co-founder of Inner Explorer, an organization that brings stress resilience, attention, and mental well-being skills to K-12 schools and early learning centers. She earned a Ph.D. from Sofia University and a Bachelor of Science from Boston College. Laura was trained as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor at the University of Massachusetts, Center for Mindfulness, and is an Allstate/Northwestern University Nonprofit Fellow. Laura has practiced and studied mindfulness for over 30 years and began teaching it to children 15 years ago. She realized it was difficult for children to commit to daily practice at home, leading to the creation of Inner Explorer in 2011. Inner Explorer provides a year-long sequence of short, audio-guided mindfulness practices that are easy to implement in the classroom each day! Students and educators practice together and improve their social-emotional capacities, leading to 43% less stress, 60% better emotional regulation and behavior, and 15% higher grades and test scores. Laura coined the term "Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning-(MBSEL)" in 2012 to show that mindfulness is foundational to social-emotional functioning because it buffers stress and activates learning readiness. Summary In this episode, Jeff and Jillane Flanders, the Executive Director of the Center for Educational Improvement, talk with Laura Bakosh, Ph.D.., founder of Inner Explorer, about the transformative power of daily mindfulness in schools. Laura shares her journey into mindfulness and the development of her program, which provides simple, guided audio sessions for students from preschool to high school. The program emphasizes the connection between mindfulness and academic, behavioral, and emotional benefits, supported by extensive neuroscience research. Laura explains how mindfulness reduces stress, improves focus, and fosters emotional resilience, particularly in high-stress school environments. She highlights the challenges of implementation, including educator buy-in, and shares success stories of schools that have adopted the program, noting improvements in student behavior, academic performance, and school culture. The conversation concludes with strategies to integrate mindfulness into education more broadly and the need for systemic changes in teacher preparation programs. Three Takeaways: Daily Mindfulness Improves Outcomes: Regular mindfulness practice enhances focus, reduces stress, and boosts academic and behavioral performance in students. Simple Implementation is Key: Inner Explorer's guided audio sessions make it easy for educators to integrate mindfulness without adding to their workload. Cultural Shift Required: Systemic changes, including mindfulness training in teacher preparation programs, are needed for widespread implementation. Social Media Email LBakosh@InnerExplorer.org. Website www.InnerExplorer.org Facebook https://www.facebook.com/InnerExplorer/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/inner-explorer-inc- X https://twitter.com/inner_explorer

Guest Elizabeth Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of anthropology at the University of Texas, Austin. A linguistic anthropologist who studies culture and communication, she has been a Fulbright Scholar in Ireland and a visiting scholar at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies in Germany and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. Summary In this episode, I chat with Elizabeth Keating, Ph.D., author of The Essential Questions, about the power of curiosity in preserving family history and understanding generational perspectives. Dr. Keating discusses how asking meaningful, anthropologically inspired questions can help uncover the rich stories and cultural insights of parents and grandparents, transforming familial relationships. She emphasizes the importance of capturing these stories before they are lost, as time and cognitive ability are fleeting. The discussion also highlights how cultural transmission occurs in everyday interactions and the impact of generational conflict on how values and beliefs are passed down. Dr. Keating shares her experiences as an anthropologist and teacher, using her framework to encourage deeper connections and a greater appreciation for the complexities of family history. Three Takeaways The Urgency of Storytelling: Capturing family stories is vital before they are lost, as time and cognitive ability are finite. Cultural Transmission Through Everyday Life: Understanding how values and beliefs are passed down helps bridge generational differences. Anthropology-Inspired Questions: Using open-ended, meaningful questions fosters deeper connections and unearths untold family histories. Social Media LinkedIn Website Referenced The Atlantic article: The Questions We Don't Ask Our Families but Should

Guest Dr. Sarah Bennison is an adjunct professor at New York University and founder of Trinity School (NYC) Office of Public Service, a thought-leading service learning initiative engaging students, faculty, families, and alumni in ongoing, meaningful community engagement work and social impact curriculum. She started her career in New York City public schools in the South Bronx and has thirty years of teaching and leadership experience. Sarah is also the founder of a children's sleepwear company for social good, BennisonGives, LLC, which emerged from her work to support infant and maternal health in Burundi, East Africa. Summary In this episode, Sarah and I discuss the concept of "mattering"—feeling valued and adding value—and its potential to counteract the toxic achievement culture prevalent in many high-achieving schools. Sarah shares insights from her work with students, particularly around connecting academic learning to real-world issues through community service. She highlights how fostering a sense of mattering helps students manage stress, develop confidence, and experience mental health benefits. We explore ways for teachers, parents, and schools to support students' mental well-being through small, consistent actions to reinforce students' intrinsic value. Sarah also discusses how the Mattering Movement's curriculum integrates into academic subjects, providing a framework to build connection, belonging, and resilience among students. Three Takeaways The Power of Mattering: Students benefit when they feel valued and are encouraged to add value, which helps counter the pressures of an achievement-focused culture. Curriculum Integration: The Mattering Movement's curriculum is flexible, allowing integration into any academic subject and making social-emotional learning part of the regular school day. Support for Parents and Educators: Parents and educators can foster a sense of mattering in small, meaningful ways to help students develop resilience and manage stress Social Media / Resources LinkedIn Website: The Mattering Movement

Guest Frank Zaccari is a TV/podcast host and keynote speaker with a background in the U.S. Air Force and over 30 years as a high-tech executive & business owner. A five-time Best-Selling and two-time Award-Winning Author, he has written nine impactful books and co-founded the "Trust the Process" Book Marketing Program. Frank mentors at Arizona State University and the University of California Entrepreneurship Academy and guides veterans through the Veterans Treatment Court. Summary In this episode, Jeff and Frank discuss the challenges of promoting books and creating a successful marketing campaign. Frank shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the importance of planning and consistency. He discusses the need for authors to promote their work well in advance, outlining a 90-day pre-launch strategy involving social media, email campaigns, and targeted messaging to build awareness. Frank's "Trust the Process" approach consists of understanding the author's goals, creating compelling content, and using multi-channel strategies to gain traction in an oversaturated market. The conversation also touches on the parallels between book promotion and public relations, highlighting the difficulty authors face when competing for attention in a crowded space. Frank underscores the need for resilience and adaptability, urging authors to invest in a strategy that can consistently keep their work visible. Three Takeaways: Early and Consistent Promotion: Frank emphasizes a 90-day pre-launch campaign to build momentum for a book's release, utilizing social media, email, and podcasts to keep the book top of mind. Importance of Storytelling and Engagement: Beyond the content, Frank notes the importance of personal stories and interactive elements to make campaigns memorable and relatable. Resilience and Adaptability in Marketing: Frank stresses that successful campaigns require resilience and a willingness to adapt to audience reactions and market conditions. Social Media https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4jSFziDx5ZQXP2ZY5-M0-w https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankzaccari/ https://www.frankzaccari.com/ frankzaccari@gmail.com/ www.authorstrusttheprocess.com/ https://www.facebook.com/frank.zaccari

Guest Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. "Quetico" (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government. Jeff has hosted the "Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity" podcast for almost 7 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider. He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness. Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change. Summary In this reflective episode, I draw parallels between today's democratic challenges and two pivotal historical examples. Through my experiences teaching about World War II, I explore how America fought against tyranny abroad while struggling with discrimination and division at home. Using the documentary "The Twisted Cross," I taught students how Hitler's legal rise to power was fueled by hate and blame. I then explore the 1960 presidential election through the book and documentary "The Making of the President 1960," highlighting how Kennedy and Nixon's contentious campaign ultimately ended in a peaceful transfer of power—symbolized by a handshake in the snow. As America faces another crucial election, these historical lessons remind us that while democracy has always faced internal and external threats, the peaceful transition of power remains fundamental to our system of government. Key Takeaways While America's founding documents champion lofty ideals of equality and freedom, our experience during World War II reveals an ongoing struggle to fully embrace these principles in practice. Hitler's legal rise to power through targeted messaging of hate and blame demonstrates how easily average citizens can be manipulated into supporting a 'big lie,' serving as a stark warning about democracy's vulnerability to internal erosion. The 1960 election's culminating 'handshake in the snow' between former President Eisenhower and incoming President Kennedy exemplifies how the peaceful transfer of power, even amid fierce political competition, stands as the cornerstone of democratic governance.