Choose to be Curious

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.

Join John L. Jackson, Jr., the Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and an ethnographer with a passion for curiosity. He shares captivating insights about nurturing curiosity as a culture and its profound impact on personal growth. Jackson explores how curiosity deepens our understanding, fosters community, and connects personal passions to professional identities. He underscores the power of listening and engagement in enhancing empathy, while also playfully inviting listeners to think of creative analogies for curiosity.

Dive into the fascinating interplay between curiosity and choice. Explore deep philosophical questions about free will and how embracing choice can enrich life. Discover the impact of decision-making on relationships and daily interactions. The conversation highlights the 'yes and' mentality from improv theater, showing how curiosity can transform experiences. It's all about making intentional choices that define our true selves.

Asia Ferrin, a philosophy professor at American University, dives into the intriguing question of whether curiosity is truly a choice. She explores the connection between curiosity and moral philosophy, highlighting how our childhood views on fairness evolve into complex moral inquiries. The conversation touches on the balance between free will and determinism, emphasizing the impact of external factors on our choices. Ferrin also discusses the societal influences on curiosity and the importance of fostering supportive environments for it in education and personal growth.