Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions!

Episode Notes[00:00] Introduction to Winning Behaviors[00:33] Welcome to Curated Questions[01:07] Meet Dave Reynolds[02:20] Dave's Leadership Journey[02:44] The Influence of Pablo[03:53] Pablo's Leadership Style[05:04] Learning from Pablo[06:44] Dave's Growth and Development[14:48] Rumin8 and Its Mission[15:09] Strategic Use of Questions[19:32] Discovery Phase in Consulting[23:25] Implementing Coaching Culture[27:36] The Art and Science of Questions[28:16] Radicle Growth Explained[38:06] Formal and Informal Coaching[46:11] The Power of Specific Feedback[47:38] Balancing Emotional and Logical Responses[48:47] Choosing the Right Medium for Communication[50:20] The Importance of One-to-One Coaching[50:29] Fostering Genuine Curiosity in Coaching[51:40] Going Beyond Surface-Level Questions[55:28] Proactive Coaching Preparation[57:23] Setting Expectations for Coachees[57:50] Holding Coachees Accountable[01:00:55] The Impact of Intensity in Coaching[01:01:46] Underutilized Questions in Coaching[01:05:03] The Value of Strengths and Opportunities[01:09:00] The Fish Under the Table[01:11:19] The Role of Questions in Leadership[01:17:54] Final Thoughts and Encouragement[01:21:42] Final Observations and Takeaways Resources MentionedRumin8 GroupRadicle Growth: Transform Into an Unstoppable Leader Through Mastering The Art of QuestionsPablo BattaroDamon JonesSusan Scott of Fierce ConversationsTiger WoodsJim RohnPareto PrincipleJim CollinsDave Reynolds on LinkedInRumin8 Group on InstagramBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedWhen did you first understand the power of questions?How did Pablo give you the space for the deep self-reflection that you mentioned?Do you have any idea where or how he developed that?Do you know any of that backstory to how he fell in love with questions?And what else?What do you think Pablo saw in you that you didn't?Did he have that kind of overt conversation with you, or was he just pulling you along through the process?Who's taking your replacement?Have you mentored them to perform at the same level you have?What did that look like for you, going through that almost apprenticeship, if you will, in learning?What are we focusing on?What are we going after?What was the most important thing we talked about?What was the commitment we made from the call?What should we be following up on?How are you doing?How's your family?How are the kids?How long were you with the organization and working in that relationship with Pablo?How are you using questions strategically at Rumin8?How do I wanna start putting this together?Do they know what their next role is?Is it clear?Do they have a plan?Is there a support?How is it that you choose the questions that you choose?What is your process for really understanding and getting to the most powerful questions that you can?What does the current coaching culture look like?How often are coaching conversations happening?Is there a specific KPI that they're talking about?How are people measuring success?What didn't we know before we started that we know now?Why is that data important to the objective that we want to accomplish?How do we do something long-lasting and long-term?Do you have a set of questions that you always go in with?Do you find that that's the case?How are the people connected to the process?How is process connected to performance?How is performance connected to the product?How have you seen that change the organizations?What do those changes look like?How do we get to that same destination by asking a question versus telling them what they need to do?Why do you think they put that sign up?What do you think is happening right now with the dynamic with your team?What part of what you're doing is feeding the ducks?how can we stop feeding the ducks and getting them to feed on their own?How do we reframe some of those questions so they're problem solving independently?How do we get them to be more proactive on how they're approaching scenarios?How do they, we get them to come with a solution versus ask for a solution?Where does a seed grow?Is it growing under the surface?How do you help them work through the shift?How has that conversation gone?How does the conversation go in helping a organization go from whatever they've been doing historically to really this being a part of the part of the culture?How many times are you coaching in between to influence the next time you come to the next formal?Are you coaching on the fly?Where do you think we could have improved with this section of the call?What's another phrase or what's another area that we could have tapped into?In between those two formal coachings, how often do they get off the line or off the road?When are we correcting them to kind of stay back on there and stay focused?How do we coach and develop informal coaching as a culture and as a system?How do we improve the forum on whether we are doing the right cadence?What would be the characteristics of that individual who chooses to walk the floor?Is that an introvert or extrovert thing?What are some of the files we're working on?What ones you're most excited about?How's the progress going?Is there anything that you've taken away from this file that has changed your perspective on how we should approach the strategy?Am I leaning into the uncomfortable conversations that I know I must have just on a daily basis?How many times have I been uncomfortable this week?What's the value of having the conversation?What's the fear about having the conversation?Why didn't you tell me last week?Why couldn't we have had this conversation last week?What's the most important conversation you should be having right now?When did you realize that you should be having that conversation?How's that conversation gone?How is the person gonna react now that there's this much delay?How's this gonna impact them?How do we want to have the conversation?How do we not make it reactive?How do we get them to own the conversation, own the next steps?Is that an emotional response or is that a logical response?How does that sound?Is this something we should pick up the phone and have that conversation?How do we really curate the right conversations in the right environment with the right amount of timing in a logical sense?How does a coach move past boilerplate questions and foster genuine curiosity in the coaching relationship?How can you do that intentionally to really foster the curiosity such that those follow up questions are genuine?How are sales?Where are you at for the month?What was the goal you set?What are you trending for the month?How do we get deeper into the actual conversation?Did we get ownership over the conversation?Do we increase the value in the relationship?Do we have a plan?What is often elusive in a coaching relationship?What do you expect your coachee to come prepared for the session?Is the coach willing to hold the coachee accountable for not doing that?Where are you at in this relationship?Where are they thinking right now about their growth strategy?What questions do you think might be underutilized, whether it's this particular question or a group of questions?How do you measure success?Why is that important and how often are you measuring it?And are you successful right now?What's the one thing that you're not doing that if you were doing, you would see more growth and progress?Why are we avoiding it?What's the challenge?How do we make it consistent?What's the one behavior that you do on a regular basis that is the highest level of ROI?What's the thing you do that gives you the most growth?What does winning the day look like?Where are you bringing the most value?What is your secret sauce that you bring to the table?How are we positioning ourselves to unleash that every day, such that the world has a better place as a result of us showing up with this talent and skill?What kind of questions do you carry with you and revisit that are just a part of who you are?What are your biggest strengths and why?How did you get strong in that area?How are you evaluating your strengths?how are you utilizing your strength?It's not a matter of how can I make my weakness, my strength?How do I improve my strengths, and how can I optimize it more?How many people have you shared that strength with that could learn from you in that particular category? 'What do you see as your biggest opportunity for growth right now?If you were coaching yourself, what feedback would you give on your biggest gap or your biggest opportunity?Why is that such an important opportunity for you?How would that help you?What would be the impact on your career?Why is coaching important in your role?Why is it important to you?Who benefits from you being a better coach?If you were to master that skill, how would that help you within this organization or beyond?What's a conversation that you're not having that you should be having and with who?How did the conversation go?How quickly can you get the fish on the table and have that conversation?How do you want to approach that relationship?Do you have a system that holds you accountable for having that conversation?How am I leading today?How could I lead differently through Radicle Growth approach?Do I have the right follow-up systems?How can I ask a question?How can I turn this into a question?How can I lead with questions versus telling people what they need to do?How do I influence my teams or the people I work with from being dependent to more independent?What is your right now question or questions?How do I add the most value to every interaction that I have this year, this day, this week, this month?Where am I adding value?How am I adding value?How is value being perceived?Do I feel like I added value to everybody they interacted with today?Where could I have added more value?Did they perceive that as valuable?How do you mirror as a strategy?How do you paraphrase?

Episode Notes[01:13] Meet Lisa Wimberger: A Story of Resilience[06:22] The Lightning Strike Incident[08:34] Living with Seizures: A Hidden Struggle[11:01] The Turning Point: Embracing Inquiry[16:52] Discovering Neurosculpting[19:19] The Power of Neuroplasticity[21:37] Creating the Five-Step Process[24:05] Implementing the Protocol[28:30] Refining Meditation with Neuroscience[34:25] Dangers of Meditation for Dissociative Nervous Systems[36:16] Understanding the Freeze Response[39:36] Predisposition to Freeze and Early Trauma[41:47] Personal Trauma and Resilience[44:08] The Power of the Nervous System[48:16] Balancing Modern Inputs with Nervous System Health[51:29] Working with Police and First Responders[55:56] The Role of Questions in Healing[01:00:49] Living with Courage and Purpose[01:04:20] Final Thoughts and Encouragement[01:07:26] Episode Reflections and Summary Resources MentionedNew Beliefs, New Brain by Lisa WimbergerNeuroplasticityDr. Michael MerzenichNeurosculpting.comNeurosculpting on InstagramNeuroPraxis on Apple PodcastGurudev Sri Sri Ravi ShankarArthur C BrooksBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedWhen did you first understand the power of questions?What would it be like if we could go?What kind of questions were with you between that lightning strike and neurosculpting?What is going on with me?Something's wrong with me; what could that be?How could I get more in touch with well-being?Everyone else seemed to not care at all, so why should I?What was your process for really diving into the questions that got you to the pathway of, as you say, your destiny, your purpose?What if it isn't normal to have these kinds of seizures where I need to be resuscitated?Where can I find out more?What can I learn in order to intervene here?What resources do I already have that could support a practice that could move me in the direction neuroplasticity says I can go?How can I adapt them and fill in the gaps they're missing so that I'm using sound neuroscience principles to position my nervous system so that I can rewire it towards healing?What could my body do differently?What does this wanna do in the world now?What does Neurosculpting need in order for it to get to more people?What is missing from it?How do I recruit the prefrontal cortex activation?What is the percentage of the population that fall into that category that traditional meditation may be less helpful because they fit into this category?Who are you going to rush to help?How much can this be learned or amplified based on the environment or conditioning that occurs beyond mere predisposition?What makes you predispositioned?How do you use questions to help folks adopt these new modalities outside of the mainstream?How do I get this to the people who need it?Would you like to get into that nervous system and find a little bit more resilience?Are you a human?Do you have a nervous system?How does this most effectively serve the police force?Where does that really resonate with them?Just because it was true, then, is it true now?How might questions be used for healing or interrupting the stories that we tell ourselves?What do you do to relationships when you're not present to what they are now and you keep referencing 10 years ago?What do you do when a new neighbor moves in and they look just like "that kind of person," and you have no present time experience with that human?What questions are you currently wrestling with or working through?How can I show up  more to be a catalyst for harmonious human community and growth and connectivity?How can I do that?Do you have any other thoughts or encouragement about questions that we didn't cover that came to mind as we prepared for this conversation?Where is the best place for folks to engage with you and find out what you're excited about?How can you inspire this same sense of urgency to encounter this unique power for the challenges in your life?What areas require a pattern interrupt in your life?What are the right questions to ask to cause it?What untapped resources are available to you to solve existing problems?

Episode Notes[01:14] Unexpected Email from Employer[05:49] The Deferred Resignation Program[06:34] Initial Reactions and Concerns[08:01] Evaluating the Offer[08:21] Enhanced Standards of Conduct[08:55] Personal Reflections and Concerns[12:21] Seeking Advice and Making a Decision[13:01] Option One: Do Not Resign[14:56] Option Two: Resign[16:44] Insights from Conversations[21:30] Making The Decision[23:51] Final Thoughts and Gratitude Resources MentionedSebastian JungerThe Soul of Shame by Curt ThompsonDonald TrumpElon MuskSteve BannonRussell VoughtDerek SiversSumner CrenshawBrian Fretwell at Finding GoodChad LittlefieldThe Thought Leaders Practice by Matt ChurchSimon CowellBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedIs it legitimate, and can it be trusted?How are you feeling?What questions come to your mind?Where does your mind go?Are you seeking safety?Would this have been an adrenaline rush as you raced to send the resignation response?What an "enhanced standard" regarding loyalty and trustworthiness was?What are these new "enhanced standards?"Are they beyond what my Constitutional oath requires?If I don't resign, how bright will the target on my back glow?My leadership has supported all my work, but would termination direction come from higher up the chain of command?What would you recommend if we talked over coffee?What questions would you ask?How would you use listening?How would you use silence?How is this scenario playing out in your mind and body?What is coming to the surface for you?How might that influence what you are about to say to me?What are the chances of my name popping on a list and getting fired?How about the chances of being part of an official Reduction in Force and early retirement?Would the administration make a better offer?What do I know about the pending job market?What did I expect the workplace to be like and did I want to be there as the contractions took place?Will the administration pay me through the end of September or will they renege?Can I sufficiently build the Curated Questions business to transition by 1 October? -Do I have the faith or confidence to step into this future as a sole practitioner and grow Curated Questions into all I envisioned?Was this purpose calling?What would I expect the job market to look like at the end of summer if I hadn't developed the income streams to maintain our lifestyle?What is your recommendation?Did it change from your initial recommendation?Where in your body are you feeling the uncertainty?Are you processing this scenario in parallel with your decision as if you had received the email?What additional questions should I have considered?Who else should I have consulted with?How would you have changed my risk rating?What is the correct length of the pregnant pause before making an important announcement?What processes would you use in my circumstance, and what would be different?What questions are at the top of your list to get to a decision?Who would be the members of your pantheon you would counsel with to gain clarity?Apart from the heady analysis, what other key practices would you include in your journey through a similar situation?

Episode Notes[00:00] Introduction to Curated Questions[01:05] Meet Chad Littlefield[02:57] Chad's Journey with Questions[05:14] The Impact of Powerful Questions[05:40] World in Conversation[08:22] The Essence of Connection[11:31] The Role of Intention in Questions[12:16] Chad's Origin Story[20:17] The Power of Conversations[25:50] Intentional Connections[38:55] The Power of Clear Intentions[39:42] Genuine Curiosity in Networking[40:22] Exercises for Building Connections[41:35] Responding to Spam with Value[47:18] The Magic of a Second Question[49:08] Creating Connection Tools[53:03] The Right Now Question[57:33] The Connector Summit Experiment[01:02:21] Social Accountability Through Questions[01:02:40] Final Thoughts and Encouragements Resources Mentionedwww.weand.meConnection Toolkit™Will WiseHow to Make Virtual Engagement EasyAsk Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that MatterChad Littlefield YouTube ChannelConnectors SummitWorld in ConversationPatch Adams Movie with Robin WilliamsTEDx Talk by Chad LittlefieldPeter Block: Connection Before ContentSimon SinekMark LevyUniversity of New Mexico Mentoring InstituteDerek SiversSeth GodinNikki GiovanniEric Tyler High School TeacherBlake LaGrangeMastering.comThis is StrategyKim (Chad's Chief of Staff)Chad Littlefield (The Other One)Chris KyleBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedWhen did you first understand the power of questions?Are you ready for your life to change?How did it impact the other students?Who is this guy?What is life teaching you right now?Are you doing this out of social obligation or do you actually care?Are you interested?Is your intent other-centric as opposed to me-centric?Where do you trace your roots back to some variation of what you'd consider connection?How did you get into this business or this world?Where would I be at?Was that Hollywood or can connection actually heal people in some way and mend relationships, even extending to physical ailments?How much do you charge to speak?How did Will view questions?Did he have any unique perspectives on questions or how they might be used, or how he used them?What do I do?What's going on right now for you?What is something you would like to do more ofIn my future, is this possible?Are you looking at your schedule and thinking that, or are you carrying this into the conversation with the folks at the coffee shop?How are you living this?What do you think that we often get wrong about connection?Any guesses to how many questions kids ask per day?When do you need me home? What should we eat tonight? Want me to pick up subs?Why have we stopped asking?Why do we ask so few questions if we know so little about most things?How are you?What's good about it? What's fine about it?Have you ever been asked this question before?How did you come up with that list?What could I just put in between these two people and make that go better?What questions are you working with right now?What's taking up lots of your brain space right now?How honest do I want to be?How vulnerable do I want to be?What is the highest amount of value that you can give to a person or a group in the shortest amount of time for the most amount of money?Anybody want to come?When would you like to have that done?When would you like to send me that first draft answer by?Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements about questions that we haven't necessarily explored that you were looking forward to being able to talk about as we came in?Where's the best place for folks to catch up with you, and see what you're excited about and learn more about you?What is something you would like to do more of?

Episode Notes[03:47] Seth's Early Understanding of Questions[04:33] The Power of Questions[05:25] Building Relationships Through Questions[06:41] This is Strategy: Focus on Questions[10:21] Gamifying Questions[11:34] Conversations as Infinite Games[15:32] Creating Tension with Questions[20:46] Effective Questioning Techniques[23:21] Empathy and Engagement[34:33] Strategy and Culture[35:22] Microsoft's Transformation[36:00] Global Perspectives on Questions[39:39] Caring in a Challenging World Resources MentionedThe Dip by Seth GodinLinchpin by Seth GodinPurple Cow by Seth GodinTribes by Seth GodinThis Is Marketing by Seth GodinThe Carbon AlmanacThis is Strategy by Seth GodinSeth's BlogWhat Does it Sound Like When You Change Your Mind? by Seth GodinValue Creation Masterclass by Seth Godin on UdemyThe Strategy Deck by Seth GodinTaylor SwiftJimmy SmithJimmy Smith Curated Questions EpisodeSupercutsPriya ParkerTechstarsSatya NadellaMicrosoftSteve BallmerAcumenJerry ColonnaUnleashing the Idea Virus by Seth GodinTim Ferriss podcast with Seth GodinSeth Godin websiteBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedWhen did you first understand the power of questions?What do you do to get under the layer to really get down to those lower levels?Is it just follow-up questions, mindset, worldview, and how that works for you?How'd you get this job anyway?What are things like around here?What did your boss do before they were your boss?Wow did you end up with this job?Why are questions such a big part of This is Strategy?If you had to charge ten times as much as you charge now, what would you do differently?If it had to be free, what would you do differently?Who's it for, and what's it for?What is the change we seek to make?How did you choose the questions for The Strategy Deck?How big is our circle of us?How many people do I care about?Is the change we're making contagious?Are there other ways to gamify the use of questions?Any other thoughts on how questions might be gamified?How do we play games with other people where we're aware of what it would be for them to win and for us to win?What is it that you're challenged by?What is it that you want to share?What is it that you're afraid of?If there isn't a change, then why are we wasting our time?Can you define tension?What kind of haircut do you want?How long has it been since your last haircut?How might one think about intentionally creating that question?What factors should someone think about as they use questions to create tension?How was school today?What is the kind of interaction I'm hoping for over time?How do I ask a different sort of question that over time will be answered with how was school today?Were there any easy questions on your math homework?Did anything good happen at school today?What tension am I here to create?What wrong questions continue to be asked?What temperature is it outside?When the person you could have been meets the person you are becoming, is it going to be a cause for celebration or heartbreak?What are the questions we're going to ask each other?What was life like at the dinner table when you were growing up?What are we really trying to accomplish?How do you have this cogent two sentence explanation of what you do?How many clicks can we get per visit?What would happen if there was a webpage that was designed to get you to leave?What were the questions that were being asked by people in authority at Yahoo in 1999?How did the stock do today?Is anything broken?What can you do today that will make the stock go up tomorrow?What are risks worth taking?What are we doing that might not work but that supports our mission?What was the last thing you did that didn't work, and what did we learn from it?What have we done to so delight our core customers that they're telling other people?How has your international circle informed your life of questions?What do I believe that other people don't believe?What do I see that other people don't see?What do I take for granted that other people don't take for granted?What would blank do? What would Bob do? What would Jill do? What would Susan do?What happened to them? What system are they in that made them decide that that was the right thing to do? And then how do we change the system?How given the state of the world, do you manage to continue to care as much as you do?Do you walk to school or take your lunch?If you all can only care if things are going well, then what does that mean about caring?Should I have spent the last 50 years curled up in a ball?How do we go to the foundation and create community action?

This episode dives into the significant political question posed by Ronald Reagan during the closing moments of his 1980 presidential debate with Jimmy Carter: 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?'Ken Woodward explores the context of the 1980 political climate, marked by economic difficulties, high inflation, unemployment, and international issues such as the Iran hostage crisis and concerns about U.S. global standing and nuclear threats. Reagan's question, which became iconic in U.S. political discourse, was noted for its simplicity, personal relevance, emotional resonance, and strategic timing. The question invited voters to reflect on their circumstances rather than abstract policies, ultimately contributing to Reagan's landslide victory.The episode details six crucial lessons for crafting influential questions, emphasizing audience perspective, engagement, simplicity, timing, self-reflection, and a call to action. Listeners are encouraged to consider how such questions have shaped their decisions and to apply these insights in personal and professional contexts.This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com. Keep questioning! Episode Notes[01:58] Setting the Stage: The 1980 Presidential Debate[04:24] Reagan's Memorable Question[06:01] Impact and Aftermath of the Debate[06:45] Analyzing the Rhetorical Question[13:06] Lessons from Reagan's Question[16:05] Modern Applications and Reflections[18:04] Conclusion and Call to Action Resources MentionedRonald ReaganJimmy CarterBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedAre you better off now than you were four years ago?Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago?Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago?Is America as respected throughout the world as it was?Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago?Where do you feel it in your body?What emotions come to the surface?What pictures race through your mind?Would it kill you to stop chewing your food with your mouth open?What is your number seven?What comes to mind?Did you feel the knee-jerk need to answer right away when your politician asked?Did you actually do the homework to determine what factors were most important to you, then look at data vice depending on emotion?Is it any easier to see why someone in a different circumstance may answer differently than you?How did the question affect your answer when the opposing politician asked it?Did you use the same metric for the candidates or give your preferred candidate extra leeway?What famous questions continue to pop up in your world?

Episode Notes[00:00] Introduction to Right Now Questions[01:58] Chazz Scott: Embracing Change and Overcoming Challenges[05:31] Shreyaa and Esha Venkat: Balancing Nonprofit Work and Personal Growth[10:02] Kwame Sarfo-Mensah: Reflecting on Personal and Professional Fulfillment[11:49] Bill Reed: Lifelong Questions and Deep Connections[17:30] Lizabeth Ruiz: A Global Perspective on Venezuela[19:25] EbonyJanice Moore: Exploring Priesthood and African Spirituality[28:00] Amy Herman: Leveraging Experiences for Growth[33:11] Jerry Colonna: Navigating Life Transitions[34:55] Conclusion and Invitation to Participate Resources MentionedChazz ScottSuccess Starts Within: Achieve Your Potential Through Radical Self-Care by Chazz ScottShreyaa VenkatEsha VenkatNEST4USKwame Sarfo-MensahLearning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom by Kwame Sarfo-MensahBill ReedEbonyJanice MooreAmy HermanJerry ColonnaBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford

Episode Notes[00:00] Reflecting on 2024: A Solo Journey[01:29] Shreya and Esha Venkat: Making a Positive Impact[02:17] Jimmy D. Smith: Mentorship and Strategic Friction[03:10] Derek Sivers: Embracing Hard Questions[04:26] Chaz Scott: Radical Self-Care and Personal Growth[05:14] Kwame Sarfo-Mensah: Identity and Cultural Affirmation[06:23] Bill Reed: Engaging with Heartfelt Questions[07:03] Joe Primo: Gratitude and Life's Transitions[08:01] David Pearl: Stretching Imagination with Questions[08:50] Bobby Morgan: Restorative Practices in Education[09:55] EbonyJanice Moore: Honoring Black Women[11:15] Amy Herman: Visual Intelligence and Curiosity[12:18] Jenny Hegland: The Story Behind the Poem[13:04] Austin Graff: Caring Through Questions[14:08] Nikki Giovanni: A Legacy of Conversation[16:21] Cal Fussman: The Art of the Interview[17:33] Brian Fretwell: Transforming Conversations[18:23] Stephanie Easter: Navigating Leadership with Questions[19:15] Jerry Colonna: Deep Questions on Belonging[20:30] Lynn Borton: Choosing to be Curious[21:08] Wrapping Up 2024: Celebrating the Power of Questions[22:10] Looking Ahead to 2025: Enhancements and Community Growth Resources MentionedShreyaa VenkatEsha VenkatNEST4USJimmy D. SmithDerek SiversChazz ScottSuccess Starts Within: Achieve Your Potential Through Radical Self-Care by Chazz ScottKwame Sarfo-MensahLearning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom by Kwame Sarfo-MensahBill ReedJoe PrimoGrateful LivingBrother David Steindl-RastConnecticut HospiceDavid PearlStreet WisdomBobby MorganEbonyJanice MooreAll The Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit Of Dreams As Radical Resistance by EbonyJaniceSister Citizen by Melissa Harris-PerryAmy HermanVisual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life by Amy HermanJenny HeglandThe Good Listening ProjectUnlimited BoundariesAustin GraffNikki GiovanniJames BaldwinVirginia FowlerCal FussmanMuhammad AliMikhail GorbachevBig Questions PodcastBig Questions Podcast: The Great Farewell for Larry KingLarry KingBrian FretwellFinding GoodSteffanie EasterJerry ColonnaREBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry ColonnaREUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong by Jerry ColonnaLynn BortonChoose to be Curious PodcastBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedHow can I take this forward in a way that works for me, that works for the community, and that benefits the greatest amount of people? Shreyaa VenkatHow do you use friction strategically? Jimmy D. SmithWhat do I want more of? Brian FretwellWhat do I need less of? Derek SiversWhy do I think I need more? Derek SiversIs more the solution? Derek SiversIs less the solution here? Derek SiversWhat habit do I need to let go of so I can show up as my authentic self? Chazz ScottWhat is the origin of my preconceived notions about a particular group of people? Kwame Sarfo-MensahHow are you doing? Bill ReedOne day people will gather to celebrate your life. They'll either have a deep well to draw from, or they'll have to make stuff up. And what do you want them to say is the question? Bill ReedWhat can I celebrate today by seeing it as new rather than something mundane? Joe PrimoReally? David PearlWhat would it look like for Black women to get to live from that place, to create from that place, to imagine from that place, to build new ethic and curriculum and language, and push culture forward from that place? EbonyJaniceHow can I ask the right questions to elicit information from this work of art to change how people look so they, in turn, can see better? Amy HermanWhat is the historical context of the place? Austin GraffWhat is the culture like now? Austin GraffWhat are some of the biggest disappointments or tensions in the area? Austin GraffHow are you taking risks? Steffanie EasterHow do you persist? Steffanie EasterHow have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don't want? Jerry ColonnaWhat is it that I have to give up that makes me feel safe so that the conditions of the world create belonging for everyone? Jerry Colonna

Shreyaa Venkat and Esha Venkat were inspired by their parents model of serving those in need, and founded the non-profit NEST4US, that is N.E.S.T Numeral 4 U.S., as a philanthropic platform built upon kindness, generosity, and social good. With the mission of making the world better through kindness by mobilizing volunteers worldwide to advance progress on societal issues and spark equitable solutions for the greater good. Their work has received significant recognition, including the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award in 2020, which was co-chaired by all four living former presidents. Their year-end 2023 numbers include 7,000 volunteers, 85,000 blessing bags, and over $4.2M of meals donated across 30 countries and six continents.The stats are impressive; what makes this nearly insane is this sibling effort started when they were ages 13 and 10.Shreyaa is now 22 years old, the CEO of NEST4US, and a Global Health accelerated master's student at Georgetown University. She is pursuing a career in health policy, combining her passions for health equity, climate advocacy, and volunteerism to aid marginalized communities worldwide.Esha is 19 years old, the COO of NEST4US, and is at Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Global Development. Over the past decade, she has contributed over 7000 hours of service, engaging people through a wide array of global service campaigns.The sisters discuss the challenges they faced as young activists, the importance of asking questions, and their efforts to expand the nonprofit's impact both locally and globally. The conversation also touches on their personal development, the significance of self-care, and how community service has shaped their lives. Shreyaa and Esha emphasize the importance of involving young people in sustainable development and the power of simple acts of kindness. The episode encourages listeners to consider how they can make a difference in their communities and impact the world positively. Listen in for lots of questions!This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.Keep questioning!Episode Notes[00:48] Meet Shreya and Isha Venkat[03:27] The Power of Questions[05:37] Travel and Cultural Awareness[08:04] Adapting Service to Local Needs[19:05] Early Beginnings of NEST4US[23:42] Expanding Programs and Community Impact[40:02] Creating a Bond Through Music[41:26] Engaging Volunteers Beyond Service Hours[42:55] Balancing Quantitative and Qualitative Impact[47:35] Adapting to Virtual Platforms During COVID[52:18] Expanding Internationally and Embracing Community[53:55] Aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals[01:00:54] Challenges and Growth in Social Impact Work[01:12:20] Reflecting and Adapting for Future Impact[01:17:03] Navigating Challenges and Saying No[01:18:29] Aligning with United Nations SDGs and Managing Programs[01:19:47] Seizing Opportunities and Mentorship[01:29:48] Current Questions and Future Plans[01:34:22] The Role of Martial Arts in Leadership[01:39:45] The Importance of Self-Care[01:45:08] Encouraging Community Involvement Resources MentionedNEST4USNEST BuddiesNEST InspiresNEST NurturesNEST TutorsNEST KaresIntact TechCiscoUnited Nations Sustainable Development GoalsWhole FoodsUnited Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)Beauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedWhen did you first understand the power of questions?Are we there yet?Travel, what, does that look like for you?How, how had questions been a part of travel?Where were some of the places that you went to?How did questions inform some of your experience, either preparation wise or while you were there?How can we bring the ideas and the magic of NEST4US to this country?How can we be able to connect and collaborate with similar organizations that exist globally?What are the questions that you think about in those three buckets for that particular location  to engage with the local communities?How can I bring nest for us to Tanzania in a way that fits the Tanzanian context?Who are we working with?Who are we supporting?What are the needs as said by them?How do we also remain culturally consciousHow can we best listen and learn to the community members there, in order to create the best change possible and a change that really fits well in the context of the country itself?Being aware of targeting or serving the local need, and then listening to what that actual need is, was that learned through mistake?Did you get voices early on in your process of getting things going where you heard that and that became a part of, your work?What is happening?What is the mission?What is the values of the specific organization, group, individual that is doing whatever work that is in that community?What are common bad assumptions folks make?What questions did you consider as you were standing things up as you're developing NEST4US?How can we bring this kind of joy, this kind of passion in a space where other friends, other families and other friends can come together and enjoy it as much as we do?How do we involve young people, families, and different groups of people in a way that allows them to impact the community in a way that they're passionate about?How do we get people to join us?How do we get our volunteers?How do we get people to believe in our mission and help out at all of our events?How do we scale?How do we get more people involved?Am I really making a difference?Is this really having an impact?Why don't we have the opportunity?What are the questions that you work through as you evaluate adding more  of these opportunities or categories?What is the problem?What are the things impacting the problem?Why is this a gap in our community?How can we, who are the people behind the work that's going to be done?What are the challenges and barriers that you might face when you try to work with different people, bring different people together?How can we prepare for that in a way that is equitable, that's fair, and that's not harming anyone in any way?What does success look like?How do we measure that?How do we see it?How do we notice it?How do we document it?How do we replicate it in the future?What are some things similar that we've done in the past?What works or what was some feedback that we thought would might be different?What song do you want to add to the playlist?Are there any questions you use to engage volunteers when they're coming in?Which of these projects are you really feeling like engaging in today?What do you think about this?Is this something you're interested in?How is it different between the in person events versus events that are literally spanning the globe?What are some of the questions that really resonate with you as you look at these goals?How do we bring this to the local level that we were working onWhat is the role of youth in accelerating progress for the [United Nations] Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?How can we engage as many people as possible?How do we harness that power of community to really drive about change and also advance those goals that we have of youth leadership and giving people that opportunity to play a role in something that they've clearly are passionate about?Who are we to stop that?How has it been for you in engaging with these leaders from all over the place?Are there any particular questions that you think are not being asked or do not get the attention that it deserves?What is the role of young people in sustainable development?We need young people, but how?What is meaningful youth engagement?What does 'meaningful' mean?How do we balance addressing urgent needs, like right now, short term needs with building that sustainable long term solutions that we need?Are you just stumbling, fumbling, trying to figure your way through that?What does that look like for you?Is this making an impact?What's going well?What are people telling us?What do we need to edit?What do we need to change?What do we need to keep the sameHow do we ensure that we're still helping and staying true to that mission?What does it look like for you to say no?How do you keep those aligned with the UN SDGs without overstretching our bandwidths as individuals or our volunteers, or settling with just limited surface level engagement?What if we did this and it worked out?What if we did this and it didn't work out?What can we get out of this opportunity?How can we support others?How can we continue to uplift the messages that we are trying to share through NEST4US?Why can't both things be true?What do you think is often misunderstood about those in need?What is your right now question?How can I be the bridge between grassroots work and the policy realm in order to maximize impact in the most equitable and cost effective way?How can we take these words and these questions and turn them into answers that is done in a formalized way?How can we take those policies and make sure they're being translated properly on the ground in order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity and access and quality services that they need most?What is that transition going to look like?How we can bring, that magic of NEST4US to campus?Are there going to be new projects that we're thinking about implementing or old projects that we want to boost up?What has earning black belts taught you?Do you guys ever sleep?What are my priorities at this moment?Is this something I should really be pouring my energy into?Are these the people that I want to pour my energy into?How can we be like that?How can I take this forward in a way that works for me, that works for the community, and that benefits the greatest amount of people?What can we do today to make the world better in the future?What is that one action or that those actions that we can take to actually make a difference in the world?What if all 8 billion of us in the world did one kind act every single day?What if everybody in the world helped just that one person?How do we encourage others to ask better questions themselves?How do we encourage each other to then take action after asking themselves these questions?How do I get involved?

EbonyJanice Moore is the founder and CEO of The Free People Project and The EbonyJanice Project. She has authored several books, and her most recent release is “All The Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit Of Dreams As Radical Resistance.” Her Spiritual Mentorship Program, entitled “Dream Yourself Free,” is designed to support Black Women in healing intergenerational wounds and prioritizing pleasure.Her talks embody a Hip Hop Womanist perspective. She is the visionary and creator of Black Girl Mixtape, a platform and safe think space that elevates the intellectual authority of Black Women.She founded the All The Black Girls Are Bestsellers Campaign, raising over a million dollars to mass-purchase Black femme books to achieve the coveted status of New York Times Bestseller. This project endeavored to spend most of these funds in small Black and Indie-owned bookstores, giving thousands of books to individuals and organizations nationwide.EbonyJanice earned her Bachelor's in cultural anthropology and Political Science and a Master's of Arts in Social Change with a concentration in Spiritual Leadership, Womanist Theology, and Racial Justice.I have followed EbonyJanice on social media for several years, learned from her worldview, and wanted to create a space for a deeper discussion about how questions have been a companion in her multi-faceted journey.EbonyJanice recounts how her grandmother taught her to question texts early on. She shares insights from her spiritual mentorship program, 'Dream Yourself Free', and discusses her book 'All the Black Girls Are Activists' which delves into Black women's pursuit of dreams as resistance. EbonyJanice elaborates on the power of dreaming from a place of safety rather than resistance and the impact of nurturing Black women in her community. The discussion touches on societal pressures, systemic inequities, and the potential for transformative change when Black women are listened to and supported.This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.Keep questioning!Episode Notes[02:33] The Power of Questions[04:50] Dreaming Beyond Resistance[12:44] Exploring Love and Relationships[20:39] Patriarchy and Society[24:18] Honoring Latresha Gowdy[31:03] The Journey of Self-Discovery[38:12] Faith and Imagination[40:19] Imagination and Faith: Childhood Reflections[44:05] Expansive View of God and the Universe[45:47] Softness and Vulnerability of Black Women[51:09] Listening to Black Women: A Call to Action[01:07:40] Personal Journey: Embracing African Spirituality[01:15:48] Final Thoughts and Encouragement Resources MentionedAll The Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit Of Dreams As Radical Resistance by EbonyJanice MooreFannie Lou HamerCrush on You video by Lil' KimSomething's Got to Give with Diane Keaton and Jack NicholsonIfá and Orisha initiationTeaching Community a Pedagogy of Hope by Bell HooksKamala HarrisMartin Luther King Jr.Barack and Michelle ObamaAudrey LordeAngela DavisChanequa Walker-BarnesSister Citizen by Melissa Harris-PerrySonya Renee TaylorMahogany L. BrowneZakiyyah Abdul-MateenNikki BlakRoya MarshIfá Yoruba ReligionJames BaldwinJerry ColonnaJay-ZEbonyJanice.comBeauty PillProducer Ben Ford Questions AskedWhen did you first understand the power of questions?What other questions do you have?Who would I get to be if I got to create my life from a place of dreaming and not always resistance?Can you unpack that a little bit more or talk around what you're seeking to get at with that question?What is the difference between me and my friend?What would it look like if we could all just exist and not be carrying the weight of, a capitalist anti-black white supremacist society on our shoulders at the age of six?What kind of questions currently fuel your imagination?Is there an equivalent in male form of my girlfriends?What would it look like if I radically love myself?Who would I be if I really radically loved myself?What are you going to do for freedom today?Can you please say some more about how she lived this question?How do you even know that?How do you know that you can say that?What happened to spark this?What happened to inspire this for you to even try this for you to even walk in that direction?You know, what about me?What areas of my life have I not given myself the permission to be more EbonyJanice?What areas of my life have I not explored?How the heck did you know this?Where the heck did you get that from?Was I not paying attention during that sermon?Where was that one chapter of the Bible you didn't read?What is God doing on Saturn right now?Why did he name them?What was God thinking to organize the Big Dipper?What does the Big Dipper mean?What does God look like?What does God sound like?What is God doing?What's God doing here?What is God doing over there?What does God do?Why isn't God doing what would be helpful?What questions must we wrestle with to achieve a world in which soft black women thrive?What would it look like for Black women to get to live from that place, to create from that place, to imagine from that place, to build new ethic and curriculum and language, and push culture forward from that place?What is your right now question?what does it mean to be a priest?Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements about questions that we haven't necessarily explored?Is that true?Is that my voice?Do I really believe this?What is my own evidence that causes me to believe this?Is there possible that there are more than one truth?More than one path to this thing, if so, what is the other path?Where's the best place for folks to engage with you, reach out, find out what you're excited about and learn more about you?