Applied Curiosity Lab

What does it mean to be in a cult? What are common indoctrination techniques? Would you recognize these techniques if they were being used on you?

How do you know if you're in a cult?

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

What would you do if you found out that you and your friends are perceived to be members of a cult?

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and answered...

How do you define a cult?

How do you think about cult versus cult of personality?

What do you check to see if you've slipped into cult membership?

How is a sorority or fraternity like a cult? How are they different?

What's the difference between shame and guilt?

Is a complete lack of skepticism a sign of cult-ish thinking?

Are you in a cult?

Have you ever been in a cult?

How do you help your kids avoid joining a cult?

References

Christian counter-cult movement

Rajneeshpuram

Heaven's Gate

Hare Krishna

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube

Join the Tribe of the Curious.

Special thanks for those of you who have shared Curiosity Bites responses and ideas. Thanks for joining us this week. Until next time!

Welcome to this special episode of Applied Curiosity Lab Radio, where we're focusing the lens of curiosity on...The Mueller Report.

Wait! Why should you care about The Mueller Report? Still?

Enter... Professor Kimberly Wehle, The Constitution Demystifier. Kim is a world-class expert in translating complex legal issues into plain English...for those of us who want to know how the law actually works.

Is this a "liberal" perspective? No. Is this a "conservative" perspective? No.

"It's not a political question. It's not a blue versus red question. It's a right versus wrong question." Kimberly Wehle

How much is this about the President and how much is this about the Presidency?

In this episode of ACLR, we're unpacking the key takeaways and what you REALLY need to know about The Mueller Report.

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

 

Can You Overcome Confirmation Bias?

 

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and answered...

...but first, corrections: 1. On October 20, 1973, President Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to fire Special Counsel Archibald Cox, but both men refused and resigned their posts in protest. The role of attorney general then fell to Solicitor General Robert Bork, who complied with Nixon’s request and dismissed Cox. 2. The two indictments against the Russians were Feb 2018 and July 2018 (not June & July 2018).

Curious about impeachable offenses? Here they are: SECTION 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Which one is you? 1. You know what you know and you don’t want to hear from people who don’t get it. 2. You have more important things to do and think about. 3. You’re fed up and disgusted...with it all...with our countries leaders, the system, everything. 4. You’re fascinated with politics and the Mueller Report is, at least, somewhat interesting.

How should we think about the hierarchy of laws in the US?

Why do we have this Mueller Report?

What's the difference between conspiracy, collusion, and coordination? What about complicity?

What are "rocks in the wheelbarrow"?

Why can't a US President be indicted...or can they?

How can we think about the two parts of The Mueller Report?

Did the Russians hack our brains? Did they hack your brain?

Are we in a constitutional crisis?

References

Kimberly Wehle

Kimberly Wehle in The Bulwark

Kimberly Wehle on Twitter

Kimberly Wehle in The Hill

Welcome back, curiosity seekers. What do you see as a warning sign that others may see as an opportunity? What do you see as an opportunity that others may see as a warning sign?

Do you value your intuition to the point where you are less curious about its effectiveness?

When you think about opportunity, what comes to mind? Investments? Adventures? Relationships?

 

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

 

How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Great Opportunity and a Warning Sign?

 

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and answered...

How should we think about warning signs versus opportunities?

Should we live our lives in fear of warning signs?

Do people who see more warning signs encounter fewer dangers?

How do men and women differ in how they answer this Curiosity Bite?

What does it mean to focus on the big picture?

References

Leaving Neverland 

Gaslighting 

History of Ponzi schemes

Availability heuristic

Sunk cost bias

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube

Join the Tribe of the Curious.

Special thanks for those of you who have shared Curiosity Bites responses and ideas. Thanks for joining us this week. Until next time!

Ready to discuss, dissect, and debate another delectable Curiosity Bite? Glad you relentlessly curious adventurers are here to tackle these topics with us. How do you determine what's valuable or entertaining enough to share? Is this different for what you share in-person and what you share online?

How are your life experiences influenced by your plans to document or share? When you watch interesting videos and photos, do you consider who was holding the camera? Do you consider what the person who posts wants you to believe or feel? Do you think that documenting your life makes it harder to change your mind?

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

What's the right ratio of experiencing to documenting life?

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and (maybe) answered...

While we're documenting our lives, what are we giving away to the algorithms?

Is documentation of our lives risky?

Why do people like to share?

How is your documenting influenced by the possibility of sharing?

How do you determine what photos or videos to believe?

Does documenting your life make it harder to explore new parts of your identity...or change your mind?

Do you feel obligated to share?

References

Anchors of Memory

Experiencing versus remembering self

How memories influence happiness

Ultimate Travel Guide to Japan for the Relentlessly Curious (podcast)

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube

Join the Tribe of the Curious.

Hey relentlessly curious adventurers, do you think that it's good to buy into the adage that you're only as old as you feel? Why? What's wrong with being old?

Why is being considered young better than being considered old? Has it always been this way? If not, what changed? If so, is this ageism... or something else?

 

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

What Does It Mean to Die Too Soon?

What's a long life?

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and (maybe) answered...

Is getting old bad?

Why do we assume that being told, "You're not old!" is a good thing?

What's wrong with being considered old?

Is ageism universal?

Can you spot your own ageism?

What's the difference between life span and health span?

What does it mean to be healthy?

If you could learn when you are likely to die, would you? If you could learn exactly when you will die, would you?

References

Life span versus health span

Time to Death Clock

The Ticktock of the Death Clock

AI will be able to predict when you will die.

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube

Join the Tribe of the Curious.

Special thanks for those of you who have shared Curiosity Bites responses and ideas. Thanks for joining us this week. Until next time!

Glad you're here you curious adventurers. We're tackling a delicate topic this week: skin color. The value of elevating curiosity will be clear.

When thinking about the color of your skin, what's the right amount?

What are you missing when you ignore impact to acknowledge intent? What are you missing when you ignore intent to only acknowledge impact? What's more important, intent or impact?

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

How often do you think about the color of your skin?

More than you have in the past? Less? What's the right amount of time to devote to thinking about it? Is it a luxury to decide?

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and answered...

Is thinking about the color of your skin the same as thinking about race? Ethnicity? Nationality? Religion?

Should ignorance be an excuse?

How do you determine what offends you? What should offend you?

How do you think about white privilege? How can you think about white privilege? Should you think about it?

What's more important, intent or impact?

How do you think about white privilege and class?

What does awareness of privilege mean?

What's the right amount to think about the color of other's skin?

What's the opposite of white privilege?

How important is it to recognize that different skin colors have different privileges?

Finally!

References

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. It's a white privilege checklist.

Identity and Honesty (aka The Sam Harris – Ezra Klein debate)

Tru-Colour Bandages (in case you're tired of bandages that only match one skin-tone shade)

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to

You relentlessly curious adventurers are the most interesting humans. Glad you're here.

How much can you trust yourself? How self-reliant are you? Are you more self-reliant in the country or the city? To live without a smart phone, what adjustments would you make? In the last 27 months, what's the longest you've gone without a cell phone? What should you know how to do that you have not gotten around to learning...because it's easy for someone or something to do it for you?

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

If you were lost in a new city with $20, a dead cell phone battery, and people who didn't believe you or want to help you, what would you do?

Hint: No one at any store wants to help. Remember, no one believes you.

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and answered...

Would you loan your cell phone to a stranger?

How do you decide whether or not you can trust people?

How much do you rely on how you look?

Is it possible to be totally self-reliant?

What informs your intuition?

References

Natalie Portman movie, Where the Heart Is

Affect Heuristic

Availability Heuristic

KMFDM

Bystander Effect

The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube

Join the Tribe of the Curious.

Special thanks for those of you who have shared Curiosity Bites responses and ideas.

Welcome back to Applied Curiosity Lab Radio, you relentlessly curious adventurers

Here's a question to elevate your curiosity for this episode. What's easier for you to see? A. When the wrong person has the right mind, B. When the wrong people have the right mind, C. When the right person has the wrong mind, or D. When the right people have the wrong mind? That's (mostly) what we're talking about.

By right mind we mean they're right...about something.

Discuss, debate, and dissect with us!

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

Do you have the right mind to know when the wrong people have the right mind?

Really, do you? Have a listen and let us know what you think!

In this episode...Curious Questions asked and answered...

Do you have the right mind to know when the right people have the wrong mind?

How do you recognize when you're doing the wrong thing?

How do you justify bad behavior?

Who gets the benefit when you give someone the benefit of the doubt?

How do you see ideas through feelings of like and dislike?

References

Cognitive dissonance

The Broken Window Effect

Machiavellian 

Pygmalion Effect

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube

Join the Tribe of the Curious.

Special thanks for those of you who have shared Curiosity Bites responses and ideas. Thanks for joining us this week. Until next time!

Welcome back to Applied Curiosity Lab Radio.

ACLR is the  podcast for the relentlessly curious. This Season (the big 2.0!) I'm joined in the studio by my sister and Applied Curiosity Lab's Chief Experience Producer, Jennifer Felberg.

The lens is – and always will be – curiosity. Each week, fun informal conversations center around one delectable Curiosity Bite designed to give your brain the time and ideas to think about thinking, to flex your curiosity muscle… and maybe even… revolutionize the way you think.

What’s more important to you? What you know…or how you think?

Do you say you value how you think more than you value what you know? How much time to you set aside for thinking, developing how you think?

This week's Curiosity Bite:

What's Your Favorite Bad Habit?

Really, what is it? Have a listen to ours, share yours, and let us know what you think!

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube

Join the Tribe of the Curious.

Special thanks to listener, Jinxser for sharing Curiosity Bites research and ideas. Thanks for joining us this week. Until next time!

What's the best way to tackle the problem of homelessness? Is "tackling" even the right word? What are we missing?

What happens to our human brain that might challenge our ability to solve the problem of homelessness? What can we do about it?

Are you a policy maker? What is a MicroSolution, and how does this relate to homelessness?

What will you learn?

How to use Applied Curiosity methodologies to solve problems in new ways.

How to assess what we want to know versus what we need to know.

How to ask key Curious Questions.

How to create a MicroSolution.

Key reasons why the issue of homelessness is uniquely difficult to address.

The role of disgust in decision making.

The role of moral judgement in decision making.

Neuroscience and the policy of homelessness.

Why human garbage is a unique problem for humans to deal with.

Curious questions.

For whom is homelessness not a problem? For whom is homelessness a problem?

What kind of problems does homelessness reflect? What problems does homelessness reflect? What kind of problems does homelessness present? What problems does homelessness present? How are these questions different?

How is similar vastly different from same?

How many problems does a viable solution need to solve?

How do we assess what problems we can (need to?) ignore in order to tackle a more important problem?

How do we prevent the magnitude of the problem from stifling our ability to tackle smaller problems?

How do we break down problems into smaller and smaller chunks?

Which is the most important smallest problem to begin to tackle?

What do I not know? What assumptions should I bust?

Links and resources:

Applied Curiosity Training

Is Utah's Housing First all that it's cracked up to be?

Portland Homeless Family Solutions

What's being done in Portland

Homes, Not Jails

Thanks for Listening!

To share your thoughts:

* Leave a note in the comment section below or Tweet with #ACLR and we'll find you.

* Share this show on Twitter or Facebook and your very own favorite social site.

To help out the show:

* Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

* Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

* Subscribe to Applied Curiosity Lab YouTube