Choose to be Curious

Guest HyunJoo Oh, Georgia Tech professor, challenges students to design engaging exhibits. Topics include leveraging curiosity in design education, collaborating with Children's Museums, and fostering creativity through play. Explore the connection between curiosity and knowledge gaps, and how to design for exploration

Amy Marvin challenges the impact of 'curiotizing' trans people, discussing the consequences of reducing individuals to curios. The conversation explores historical complexities of 'trans' and diverse gender identities, navigating curiosity towards trans individuals, ensuring safety in public spaces, and advocating for empathy and education in understanding gender identity in society.

Henry Dunbar, a curious maker passionate about upcycling, discusses creative projects like turning old bike tires into new creations and repurposing recycled items to make art pieces like a fish sculpture from aluminum cans and wire. The podcast also explores 'trashin' and 'plogging', highlighting the transformative power of upcycling and the intersection of creativity and environmental consciousness.

Sonia Quiñónez, Northern Virginia Program Director at Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, discusses how curiosity influences philanthropy decisions, the importance of community engagement in strategic giving, fostering risk-taking in foundations, and the value of sharing learnings in the philanthropic community. Analogies between curiosity and tomatoes are used to highlight its boundary-pushing nature.

Guest Ronald Young, Jr., explores the power of storytelling in building connections and empathy. Topics include the impact of narratives on human connection, analogizing curiosity to oil, and the role of vulnerability in enhancing storytelling and human interactions.

Philosopher Tyson Lewis challenges traditional views on attention in education, advocating for distraction to foster curiosity. The podcast explores how distractions can enhance learning, the balance between curiosity and distraction, and the value of discomfort in educational experiences. Analogies of a trivet, keyboard, and college reunion highlight the importance of curiosity in sparking creativity and exploration.

In this enlightening conversation, Elizabeth Hardy, a principal planner and demographer for Arlington County, dives into the significance of community demographics. She discusses how curiosity fuels local insights and informs decisions like resource allocation. The dialogue highlights Arlington's evolving demographic landscape and the critical role of census data in planning. Elizabeth likens data exploration to cooking, urging everyone to partake in the census to enhance community growth and engagement.

Seeta Sistla, a Professor of ecosystem ecology and contributor to Curiosity Studies, dives into the complexities of curiosity and its environmental costs. She discusses how curiosity drives our understanding of climate change and human impacts on ecosystems, drawing from her Arctic research. The conversation reflects on the unintended consequences of exploration and the need for mindful curiosity. Sistla emphasizes nurturing curiosity not only in science but also in personal growth, highlighting its vital role in appreciating our everyday experiences.

Karen Coltrane, President and CEO of the Leadership Center for Excellence, is a powerhouse in nonprofit management with a passion for community building. She dives into the exciting DMV Diversity and Inclusion Institute, emphasizing how curiosity can drive meaningful change in the workplace. The discussion includes the vital link between leadership effectiveness and inclusive practices, showcasing personal stories of overcoming challenges. Coltrane also highlights curiosity as a tool to alleviate fear, urging listeners towards lifelong learning and personal growth.

Explore how changing our perspective can unveil fresh insights into the world around us. The discussion emphasizes curiosity as a powerful tool in understanding diverse cultures and individual stories. It highlights the transformative impact artists have on our perceptions, urging an interdisciplinary approach to education. The conversation between an ethnographer and a photographer prompts us to embody a deeper level of attention, revealing the profound connections we can forge through thoughtful observation.