”We’re not looking to our government officials and experts. We’re just looking at our neighbors and having these intimate conversations: what do you care about? What is the problem? And how can we, as an organization, support you in this moment?” ~ Micaela Pond

My very first guest — nearly 10 ears ago! — was teacher and self-described “brain coach” Micaela Pond. 

We talked about curiosity in teaching, learning and the impact her beloved teacher Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger disaster had on Micaela’s life.

Not long after our conversation, Micaela felt called in yet another direction following the first election of Donald Trump.

She soon emerged as a formidable community organizer.

I asked her to come back and reflect on curiosity in the work of fighting authoritarianism through community action.

We talk about democracy’s imperfections, facing hard facts and courageous conversations, appreciating the many and wonderful motivations and skills among us, collaborating, bringing our curiosity to the unthinkable — and WofA’s remarkable origin story.

I’ve learned along the way that people don’t need to be convinced to care. They already do. What they need is permission to start where they are. And curiosity gives us that permission.

Listen to Ep. 316: We of Action: Curiosity in Activism, with Micaela Pond

Check out, We of Action: WofA. No Kings Day #3 is coming March 28. Learn more here.

Listen to my very first show, a conversation with “Coach Pond,” a curiosity celebrant if ever there were one.

Enjoy these stories of How to Change the World, as told by students of one of Micaela’s students (who happens to be my son).

WofA member Sharon Shutler joined me to talk about lessons learned from her 2017 efforts to flip a Virginia district Blue.

Watch this terrific explainer by Harvard professor Erica Chenoweth about the “3.5% rule”. It takes broad-base, non-violent action from a portion of the population to stop authoritarianism. Get curious about how you might contribute!

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Spunk Lit” by Love & Weasel, via Blue Dot Sessions.

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