“We have this fundamental desire to be seen, as people, as humans. Giving someone the attention to tell their story is a gift to them.” ~ Andy Isaacson

I believe journalist, photographer and all-around producer Andy Isaacson has found ways to lean into his own curiosity, creating vehicles for the rest us to come along for the ride – in one case, literally.

For him a good day sparks his curiosity — a thought that came to him for the first time in this conversation. (Hurrah for asking about what makes for a good days!)

We talk about why it’s so important to meet people where they are; the intersections of respect, fairness, empathy and rigorous investigation; resourcefulness; and why stories are a form of currency.

Meeting people where they are means just showing up and interacting with people in a non-judgmental, respectful, human way…Instead of looking at people as groups, see them as individuals, separate from their group affiliation.

Listen to Choose to Be Curious #273: Meeting People Where They Are, with Andy Isaacson

Andy Isaacson is a journalist, educator, and producer. Learn more about him on his website.

Check out some of Andy’s projects: Camping to Connect, Shared Studios, and my personal favorite RickshawNYC.

Andy mentioned Somini Sengupta, the international climate reporter on the New York Times climate team. Learn more about her.

Many thanks to my guest Justine Ickes for suggesting Andy as a “curiosity conversation”. This is the story that caught her eye.

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also like: Curiosity Is the Gateway to Connection, with Mike Morales; Inviting Curiosity by Design, with Cassini Nazir; Curiosity, Stories & Belonging, with Kiran Singh Sirah; and Ten Thousand Friends, with Rob Lawless.

Theme music by Sean Balick;“Union Hall Melody” by Union Hall via Blue Dot Sessions.

You can subscribe to Choose to Be Curious on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.