This week’s conversation is about curiosity in translation and interpretation. Not just the literal, “how do you say this thing in that language?”– but how do we use our curiosity to communicate our ideas effectively, to investigate what’s really being said when we're quite literally not speaking one another's language.

Luckily, there are people like Silvia Villacampa who have a few things to teach the rest of us...

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Discovery Harbor” by Cloud Harbor,, via Blue Dot Sessions.

With science under attack, researcher Anthony Zador joins me to make the case for its value, especially of curiosity-driven basic science.

We explore the charms of curiosity as a research motivator, what distinguishes curiosity-driven research from all the rest, federal investment in science -- and recent disruptions thereto and the gutting of American research, the "curse of knowledge", showcasing practical applications, debate in the lab, and what's to love about Gila monster venom and Yellowstone's thermal pools.

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Waterbourne” by Algea Fields, via Blue Dot Sessions.

In the first of what I hope is a periodic series, Rabbi Nancy Flam joined me to explore curiosity in the Jewish tradition. It's a lovely discussion of everything from Moses' response to the burning bush and the Jewish value sakranut, to creative betrayal and the importance of not getting kicked out for our questions.

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Patched In" by Studio J, via Blue Dot Sessions.

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.

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.

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

How might choosing to be curious help us keep the conversation open, hold onto history that's being erased, and find moments for celebration, even still?

Monique "Moe" Bryant was my teacher and guide when I took a course called Challenging Racism back in 2015-2016. I had her on the show twice then, once before and once after I'd taken the eye-opening, humble-making, nonetheless-empowering program.

Given where conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion are now, I thought it was time to have her back.

Challenging Racism: https://www.challengingracism.org

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Turning to You” by Landsman Duets, via Blue Dot Sessions.

I think of choosing to be curious as acting on the idea that there is opportunity in the unknown -- a very optimistic enterprise.

Kevin Kelly, a man of many passions and pursuits, is a self-described radical optimist.

So, what's to be found at the intersection of curiosity and choosing to be optimistic?

We explore how radical (and not utopian) this approach is; our moral obligation to create opportunity; embracing an abundance mindset; "lighthouse" parenting; being curious about the things we're not interested in; just how persuasive curiosity can be; and why we're all so very dependent on one another -- in a good way!

Kevin Kelly: https://kk.org

Theme music by Sean Balick; ”One Little Triumph" by Piano Mover, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Kevin Kelly photo by Chris Michel, used with permission.

Today we dive into a tantalizing “kinesthetic framework for curiosity” a way of understanding how we move between ideas and bits of information.

Researcher Dale Zhou thinks of our curiosity as our search process in specific conditions. His research shows we’ve each got our own style — and that architecture can be mapped using knowledge networks.

Dale Zhou: https://www.dalezhou.com

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Step In Step Out” by Crab Shack, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Educator Patty Gómez used a question formulation technique to cultivate a collaborative culture of curiosity at work.

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Entrance Shaft 11” by The Depot, via Blue Dot Sessions.

The World Peace Game is the brainchild of educator John Hunter. He describes it as “learning to live and work comfortably in the unknown.”

It's hard to imagine a more curiosity-centric undertaking.

A three-dimensional, hands-on political simulation, the World Peace Game explores the interconnectedness of the global community through economic, social, and environmental crises and the imminent threat of war. The goal is to extricate all the countries from those dangerous circumstances and achieve global prosperity, with the least amount of military intervention.

And it’s played by 4th graders.

World Peace Game: https://worldpeacegame.org

Theme music by Sean Balick; “UpUpUp and Over" by The Balloonist, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Menka Sanghvi and I feel our ways around noticing as the first step to caring, taking responsibility for where and how we direct our attention, attention activism and artistry, not accepting default settings, the essence of parenting, and why looking at the sky first thing in the morning is such a good idea.

Menka is a mindfulness and digital habits expert based in London. Her writing, speaking and many projects explore the relationship between attention, technology and society. She is the founder of Just Looking --- a community project that champions more curiosity and wonder in the everyday --- and co-author of the newly released book Your Best Digital Life: Use Your Mind to Tame Your Tech.

Menka Sanghvi: https://menkasanghvi.com

Theme music by Sean Balick; ”Mind Body Mind”, by Bodytonic , via Blue Dot Sessions.