Choose to be Curious

Slovakian educator and author Veronika Darwell shares her journey as a teacher and the importance of curiosity. They discuss the influence of teachers, learning languages, and the process of creating her book. They also touch on representation and the impact of the book on children.

"On Open-Earedness" features Tim McKenry, a spirited advocate for reclaiming our tolerance of the unfamiliar and making music an intentional part of our lives. They discuss the decline of open-mindedness, the role of music in memory formation, cultural cringe in Australia, and the benefits of isolation in nurturing personal curiosity.

Monica Guzman, founder of Reclaim Curiosity and senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels, discusses fearlessly curious conversations in divided times. They emphasize the power of curiosity in bridging divides, understanding values in conversations, and using analogies to describe curiosity. Overall, the podcast explores the importance of curiosity for building connections and understanding different perspectives. Check out Braver Angels for more information.

In this episode, David Pearl, an innovator in business and the arts, discusses 'street wisdom' and the importance of slowing down to truly experience the world. They explore trust, safety, and embracing the unpredictable. They also discuss how curiosity expands our thinking and the upcoming event organized by Street Wisdom.

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.