I was born in Berkeley. I’m celebrating a return to my roots and joining the Bay Area’s KPFA 94.1 FM line-up with a little (re)introduction to Choose to Be Curious.

For those of you who are new, this is how it all began! For those who have been around a while, here’s the origin story, plus some of the challenges and glory of which you’ve been such an important part. I’m hoping there’s something here for everyone.

A couple of weeks ago, I gave a talk about curiosity at the Political Leadership Academy at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. 

The talk was —technically— about curiosity as a leadership and conflict resolution skill, but it evolved to be a bit of a Choose to Be Curious origin story, culling lessons learned from more than nine (nine!) years hosting and producing the show. 

It dawned on me: this might make a cool episode in its own right…

So here it is: the story of how this whole curiosity enterprise came to be and some of the many insights I’ve picked up along the way — with a little timely bias for all things peace and conflict-transformation related.

A big shout-out to all the guests, both quoted and not, who have made the show what it is!

“If you change your point of view,
you will see something new.”

Dad

Listen to Choose to Be Curious #282: Lessons Learned

At the risk of being my own spoiler, here are the five lessons:

1. 0.8 Prototyping: the idea that you start even before you think you’re ready — not even Version 1.0, but 0.8. (Credit: Presencing Institute)
2. Apprenticing: seeing just how much can be accomplished using my beginner’s eyes, mind, and heart to learn by doing  (Credit: Architecting Curiosity)
3. Curiosity can be a choice!
4. Just do it…
5. In the end, curiosity is about connecting.

Deeper Dive! Curiosity piqued by something you heard? Here are sources and citations:

Political Leadership Academy – I was honored to be invited to speak with this cohort, whose participants came from all across the country. PLA was founded through a partnership between George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and the Bipartisan Leadership Project (BLP) in early 2020. Ep. #110: Bipartisanship & Curiosity, with Bob Mitchell.

“If you change your point of view, you will see something new.” – Terry Borton. I don’t know that this mantra made it into his book Reach Touch and Teach, but its spirit certainly infuses his life and work — and my upbringing.

People are better at learning things they are curious about; Memory for incidental material presented during curious states was also enhanced – Terrific research by Matthias Gruber and others. Nice coverage in The Guardian. (Stay tuned, I’ve got Matthias joining me for a conversation about his new research in a few weeks!)

“Use your beginner’s eyes, mind, and heart to learn by doing.” – Architecting Curiosity. Ep. #159: Architecting Curiosity, with Pim Schachtschabel, Monica Canfield-Lenfest & Anthony Rocco

“If you think you know, you don’t think to ask.” – Monicá Guzmán, curiosity author & bridge builder. Ep. #201: Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, with Monicá Guzmán

“It doesn’t do any good, for they can never see what they’re in too much of a hurry to look for.” – Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth. Here are five things I love about this children’s classic book. (If you’ve seen the movie, you have not read the book. I recommend reading the book…)

“What if I am wrong?” – Susan Engel, Williams College. Ep. #103: Why Should This Be So? with Susan Engel — and it’s cousin, “Consider the possibility that you’re wrong,” from Saul Perlmutter, UC Berkeley. Ep. #233: Curiosity & Creating Sense in a World of Nonsense, with Saul Perlmutter.

“Get out of your bubble and try to hear a reasonably good version of the thing you disagree with.” – David Trigaux, Washington Urban Debate League. Ep. #265: Resolved: Curiosity Is Good for Debate, with David Trigaux

“Every question, every comment, every action has to be more deeply questioned. Critical thinking is every student has to go through the roof …to examine carefully and critically everything that is said.” – John Hunter, creator of the World Peace Game. Ep. #277: Curiosity & the World Peace Game, with John Hunter

“If you actually want to help people, you have to start at curiosity. They have to come to the conclusion that you get them. You can’t lecture people into that conclusion. You have to do it through the questions that you ask – and by listening.” – Chris Kolenda, Strategic Leaders Academy. Ep. #247: Curiosity in Combat, with Chris Kolenda

“Anything else?” – Carlisle Levine, BLE Solutions. Ep. #21: Evaluation, with Carlisle Levine

#ANALOGY – I’m so fond of analogies, I did a whole episode on them: Ep. #42: #analogy: A Tribute

“Curiosity is the best remedy for fear.” – Mario Livio, astrophysicist & author. Ep. #45: What Makes Us Curious, with Mario Livio and Ep. #248: Is Earth Exceptional? with Mario Livio

Theme music by Sean Balick; other music by One Such Village, via via Blue Dot Sessions.

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