Choose to be Curious

I first got interested in curiosity as a management tool in my role as chief operating officer at NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), a national grassroots nonprofit organization. NAMI had about 80 employees and nearly 1,000 mostly volunteer-led affiliates  when I was there -- and it was basically my job to know everything.  But I became convinced I was better at my role if I didn’t know everything, and came at the work with curiosity instead.  So I made myself a student of the subject. I've been studying it ever since. Do others in comparable roles feel the same way, I wondered? What lessons have they learned? Helen Chamberlin is executive director of the Rehoboth Beach FIlm Society, in Rehoboth Beach, DE. She joins me to consider curiosity at work... More about the Rehoboth Beach Film Society here: https://www.rehobothfilm.com Theme music by Sean Balick. “Jog to the Water” by Duck Lake, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Julie Pham, author of 7 Forms of Respect, discusses the complex nature of respect and its relation to curiosity. Topics include different forms of respect, gaining new perspectives on workplace interactions, exploring disrespect, and the importance of respect, consideration, and attention in interpersonal interactions. The power of slowing down and practicing curiosity is also emphasized.

Jonathan Schooler, Distinguished Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at UC Santa Barbara, discusses curiosity and creativity, differences between general interest and deprivation curiosity, the transformative power of asking questions, and the value of curiosity practices and mindfulness. Also, an app to increase curiosity and the analogies of curiosity to clouds and postage stamps.

Dina Pavlis, an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, talks about killer whales, honey bees, walking dunes, and the joy of exploring beyond your front door. She shares her experience of living on the Oregon Coast and the fascinating soundscape of Florence. The podcast also explores the power of connecting through shared interests and learning, preserving the Oregon Dunes through curiosity, and everyday adventures that add a sense of discovery to our lives. An entertaining discussion on the concept of curiosity using analogy slips from a jar.

Where does research begin? Tom Mullaney and Christoper Rae say it starts way before we think it does. Their book, Where Research Begins: Choosing a Research Project That Matters to You (and the World) is a remarkable book -- a workbook, really. They provide a curiosity-informed, generative process for finding and really understanding the questions underlying anything you might want to learn more about. A read both rigorous and delightful - I recommend it! Tom Mullaney is a Professor of Chinese History at Stanford University, a Guggenheim Fellow, and co-author of Where Research Begins. We had a great time digging into their curiosity practices... More about Tom Mullaney here: https://history.stanford.edu/people/thomas-mullaney Find Where Research Begins here: https://whereresearchbegins.com Theme music by Sean Balick. “Distill” by Darby, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Jaison Manjaly, Principal investigator and chief cheerleader of The Curiosity Lab at IIT Gandhinagar, discusses the Lab's interdisciplinary research on curiosity and its efforts to encourage curiosity at every turn. Topics covered include the definition of curiosity, the impact of the caste system on knowledge accessibility in India, lab outreach efforts through camps and clubs, and the importance of fostering curiosity through small choices.

Caroline Nickerson, Advisor at SciStarter, talks about the power and accessibility of citizen science. She highlights the global impact and educational benefits of participating in research projects. Nickerson discusses collaborations with libraries, schools, museums, and organizations like Verizon and All of Us Research. Learn how citizen science reaches diverse participants through events, libraries, and health fairs.

In 2017 Eva Marie Carney read a news story that changed her life. I invited her to share how being open to new information -- and allowing that information to influence not only her thinking but also her actions -- has enabled her to change other lives as well. This is an exploration of curiosity, very much as applied. Curiosity, in this case, in service of ending period poverty. Eva Marie Carney founded The Kwek Society which provides pads, tampons, liners, and underwear, along with educational materials and moon time bags filled with supplies to Indigenous students and communities needing these expensive menstrual supplies. Learn more here:  https://kweksociety.org Music this week: "Easement" and "Thirteens" by Bulwark, and "Great is the Contessa" by Contessa, all, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Claire Bown teaches techniques to help people connect more with art. Her guide How to Look at Art (Slowly) is as rich a compendium of curiosity practices as I've ever found. Claire's professional focus is museums, but she'd be the first to tell you: the skills she shares are useful anywhere... Check out Claire's work at Thinking Museum: https://thinkingmuseum.com Theme music by Sean Balick; "Purple Light" by Marble Run, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Amina Luqman-Dawson, author of Freewater, discusses the role of curiosity in her book and in understanding history. The podcast explores the inspiration behind her book, the importance of curiosity in storytelling, and the responsibility of parents to ensure freedom. It also emphasizes the need to be open-minded and empathetic to connect with history and the experiences of others.