By Ken Woodward
5
33 ratings
The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.
"The way you unlearn is by first acknowledging the privileges you have." - Kwame Sarfo-Mensah
Kwame is applying his dual-major Bachelor of Arts and Mathematics and Master of Education degrees from Temple University to the high calling of equipping educators with the tools to create culturally affirming classrooms where every student's identity is acknowledged and celebrated. His third book, Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom, will be released on November 15th, 2024.
Kwame taught middle school math in Philadelphia and Boston before moving to Sierra Leone, where he currently serves as a global education consultant through his firm, Identity Talk Consulting, LLC. Over the last several years, he has also hosted the podcast Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE.
Kwame explores the concept of identity, including personal and social identities, and how these can affect one's experience in the world. The conversation delves into the challenges of addressing identity in educational settings and the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Kwame shares his experiences and insights on the power of questions in navigating contract negotiations, understanding student backgrounds, and self-growth. The dialogue also touches on unlearning ingrained biases and recognizing privileges. The discussion concludes by reflecting on the role of questions in fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes:
[00:50] Meet Kwame Sarfo Mensah
[03:07] Understanding Identity
[08:24] The Power of Questions in Negotiations
[12:56] Navigating DEIA in Education
[24:09] Questions an Educator Asks to Know Their Classroom
[33:46] Unlearning and Self-Work
[37:43] Navigating Accessibility Challenges
[38:37] The Process of Unlearning Privilege
[40:21] Questions for Equity in Education
[42:33] The Role of Allyship and Humility
[46:08] Understanding Positionality and Power
[47:50] The Journey of Self-Knowledge
[50:30] Hope Amidst Social Challenges
[56:13] The Importance of Asking Questions
[01:02:20] International Perspectives on Identity
[01:08:28] Reflecting on Personal and Professional Impact
[01:11:09] Final Thoughts and Resources
Resources Mentioned
The Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
Nice Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw
identitytalk4educators.com
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah on LinkedIn
Kwam_the_identity_shaper on Instagram
identityshaper on X
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
What is your working definition of identity?
Why not keep this basic standard, teach it, and then recognize that variations from that perceived standard exist?
When did you first understand the power of questions?
What's your budget for professional development services at your school?
What were some of the amounts that were given?
Will the school receive any grants in the coming months or even years?
Is it predominantly through trial and error that you got that experience?
Are there any other questions that you found helpful as you've done negotiations?
Does your school have a mission statement around diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Is there any living document or statement that supports this work?
What are some things that you've already done to initiate this line of work?
What do you say to clarify what D.E.I. is and is not?
Wouldn't it make sense to at least recognize them or do some school-wide activity where we provide information or give them a chance to express how much their traditions and faiths mean to them?
Why can't we give that same energy to folks who may not celebrate Christmas?
How can this be better as a result of you being here?
What kind of questions can educators use to understand the various identities within their classroom?
What does that process look like for understanding a classroom?
What traditions or customs do you practice in your family or culture?
How do the friends or the community around you influence your sense of self?
What languages do you speak?
What's something that's changed in your me bag?
What questions can we use to unlearn the narrative you are talking about?
Why do I believe what I believe about a certain group of people?
Where do these ideas come from?
Do they come from my schooling?
Do they come from the friends and people who are around me?
Do they come from my family?
What is the origin of my preconceived notions about a particular group of people?
What's the source of this information?
What agenda are they trying to fulfill by disseminating this information?
How does unlearning happen, or what are some steps or milestones along that path?
What does the unlearning process look like?
Have you come across or used any particular questions in your journey for fighting for others or advocating for others?
Does this policy negatively impact a specific subgroup of people over another based on how it's worded? If so, how can we amend that policy to ensure that this doesn't continue?
Are there particular stories that are not being told in these books?
Are there certain protagonists in these books that are not being seen or do not match the backgrounds of students in your class, whether from a racial, linguistic, or cultural standpoint?
What are some things that I am doing that make me complicit in perpetuating the discrimination that my students face?
Is this a situation where I decenter myself, or do I push in?
Do you want any help on this?
Why wasn't one single Palestinian American speaker invited to the DNC in Chicago?
If they're not giving us the answers, where can we find these answers to our questions?
How are you American?
How come you can't speak your language?
Where are you coming from?
What is your right now question?
Have I done enough as far as being present for both of my sons?
Have I done enough as far as being a present partner for my wife?
Have I done enough self-work to be the best human I can be to my family and my loved ones?
Have I done enough professionally to feel good or to at least give myself credit for all that I've accomplished?
Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements that we haven't explored yet, or any other categories regarding questions that we haven't touched on?
"Here's the trick I've learned. Ask a question and listen to the answer." - Bill Reed
Bill Reed has an impressive resume filled with leadership roles across companies such as Intuit and Northwestern Mutual in the financial arena and Sweet Fish Media, helping B2B marketers produce personality-led content. Currently, he is assisting Dwellspring to capitalize on the success of the 12-hour Sound Machine Podcast, with over 1.3M unique listeners per week, to help worldwide listeners get better rest.
A consistent theme throughout his career is dedicating himself to serving others by intentionally nurturing relationships through creative and engaging methods.
The discussion delves into how questions have shaped Bill’s parenting, leadership, and mentoring approach, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and intentional relationship-building. We also explore the impact of effective questioning in meetings and mentoring relationships, focusing on Bill's current endeavors and insights into fostering a culture of transparency and authentic inquiry.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes
[00:49] Meet Bill Reed: A Journey of Leadership and Curiosity
[02:01] The Power of Questions in Parenting
[04:09] The Art of Asking Questions
[07:52] Building a Culture of Inquiry
[15:51] Mentorship and the Role of Questions
[24:13] The Importance of Curiosity and Lifelong Learning
[31:31] The Value of Mentorship and Sacrifice
[44:08] The Wise Thing to Do
[45:12] Empowering Self-Discovery
[49:48] The Art of Asking Questions
[52:55] Curiosity and Connection
[01:00:50] Right Now Questions
[01:07:41] The Dwellspring Sleep Podcast Success
[01:18:08] Final Thoughts and Encouragements
Resources Mentioned
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
George Raveling
Andy Stanley
Lynn Borton of Choose to be Curious
Dwellspring.io
William (Bill) Reed at LinkedIn
Bill Reed email [email protected]
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
When did you first understand the power of questions?
What's reasonable, what's fair?
How have you changed your questions as the kids have gotten older?
Was curiosity something your parents encouraged?
What would a growing up look like, did your parents foster that?
What is the problem to be solved?
Why are we here?
what is your question?
Should we hire a new director of marketing?
What have you done to build a culture where questioning up front is seen as an invitation, vice weaponization, and potential judgment?
How do we move from failure to success?
were there any particular things that you discovered that helped ease that process to developing that culture?
What are some of those lessons learned about being able to ask helpful questions and not just abrasive questions?
What if we spend 4 million doing that, what does that look like?
Where have been some consistencies and perhaps some differences between how those either worlds operate within the realm of questions?
Is there anything that you could say to your 30-year-old self that would apply or accept today's wisdom?
Do you think that your 30-year-old self would've listened?
What did mentoring look like, and how might your mentors use questions as you've gone through those different phases and seasons of life?
Is anyone here a mentor?
So when you say that, what does that look like, or what comes to mind for you?
Can I buy you a cup of coffee?
Are there any particular questions that you have found helpful as you've been on either side of that mentoring relationship?
How are you doing?
What's on your mind?
What's going on in your life?
Based on your past experiences, your current circumstances, and your future hopes and dreams, what's the wise thing to do?
What do you want them to say?
One day people will gather to celebrate your life. They'll either have a deep well to draw from, or they'll have to make stuff up. And what do you want them to say is the question?
How did that happen?
How did that make you feel?
Are you really interested in people?
What is your curiosity practice?
What did you just do, you stole the opportunity for them?
What are your Right Now Questions?
What breaks your heart?
What makes you angry and why?
What are you passionate about?
What if a podcast was 12 hours long?
Why can't we do it this way?
"Share your questions. They're not as yours as you think they are.." - David Pearl
David Pearl. David is a performer, author, director, and public speaker who has established himself as an innovator in business, the arts, and social change. In his early years, he sang at the Royal Opera House as the boy soprano soloist for four years. Later, he played double bass and toured as a London School Symphony Orchestra member and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
David is a creative force who has pioneered the use of the arts in business and works as a creative confidant to high-profile CEOs and their teams across the globe. He is the mastermind behind experience engineering, a method for designing and leading high-stakes, high-impact meetings and creating stories for leaders that help harness the power of narrative and leadership.
As an author, David has written several insightful books, including his most recent work, Wanderful, Human Navigation for a Complex World. This book aims to awaken our innate guidance systems to help us navigate life's complexities. He's also the founder of Street Wisdom, an international social venture that brings experiential learning to city streets across the globe. Finally, David is also the creative mind behind Wanderful, a podcast designed to add a bit of wonder to your walking.
The conversation highlights Pearl's journey from his early musical career to pioneering 'experience engineering' and founding the initiative Street Wisdom. Key themes include the transformative power of questioning, the resilience of a playful mindset, and the importance of curiosity in both personal and professional realms. Additionally, we delve into meaningful connections through shared interests and reflective walks, emphasizing how profound questions can build understanding, community, and personal development. The discussion underscores re-evaluating work and life's purpose, creativity, imagination, and the complexities of human interaction.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes:
[02:39] The Power of Questions
[04:28] Challenging Reality and Personal Experiences
[07:13] The Art of Asking Questions
[13:52] The Influence of Polymath Parents
[20:15] The Importance of Playfulness
[21:41] Exploring Creativity and Improvisation
[25:33] The Importance of Naming
[30:31 Street Wisdom and Creative Exploration
[31:25 ]How Questions Inform Improvisation
[36:04] Street Wisdom and the Power of Wandering
[48:57] The Essence of Creativity
[49:32] The Power of Asking Different Questions
[50:11] Inspiration from Everyday Life
[51:04] The Importance of Imagination
[52:17] Learning from the Future
[54:12] Connecting with Others
[55:59] The Impact of Street Wisdom
[57:34] Connecting with Others Through Questions
[58:52] Personal Journeys and Reflections
[01:02:12] The Value of Unanswerable Questions
[01:08:01] The Future of AI and Human Inquiry
[01:15:39] The Role of Questions in Business and Life
[01:17:10] The Future of Learning and Technology
[01:30:21] Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Resources Mentioned
David Pearl
Royal Opera House
Wanderful, Human Navigation for a Complex World by David Pearl
Street Wisdom
Wonderful Podcast
Placido Domingo
Charles Handy
David Frost
Ken Campbell
Impropera
David Glass
Galapagos - play
Agile Software Development
Richard Bandler
Neuro Linguistic Programming
Derek Sivers
Duende
The Future School
Another World is Possible by Geoff Mulgan
Awareness by Anthony DeMello
George Floyd
Raymond Coates
William Shakespeare
Joanna Macy
Worldwide Wander - 27 September 2024
David Pearl on LinkedIn
Streetwisdom.org
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
When did you first understand the power of questions?
Really?
If it is real, is, are you serious?
So how well do you think that went?
What would you have done differently?
Are there any questions?
Were they [your parents] forward-leaning on developing curiosity and challenging reality?
Why has your sense of play been so resilient?
How do questions inform your improvisational work?
What's trying to happen here?
How can I serve what's happening?
What do I want to make happen?
What are we going to make happen?
How can I be the facilitator?
How can I be the means by which this thing can happen?
Does it come back, or does it come from you?
Why not?
What if?
What then?
Why not us?
Why do we have to wait for the picture?
What is next?
What is this supposed to be?
What is required?
What is this thing that is next?
What are questions that we've been asked that we missed today?
What would your grandchildren's children thank you for learning today?
What will the future thank you for learning?
What if this worked out?
What if this was better than we could imagine?
If it's true that most people think this doesn't work out, how does it affect our decision-making and choices?
What was the problem again?
If you could see it working out, would your friends have issues with you?
What is that?
What's in this for you?
Are you a racist?
What are you going to do differently?
To be, or not to be?
Where are my people?
What are you going to do with the time you save?
How long would it be before humanity began to make the same mistakes to start to defray that system?
How do we name this differently?
How do we name things playfully?
How can I make this more accessible, more available, more delightful?
How can people learn more without realizing they're learning?
How can we teach without lecturing?
Are there any other thoughts or encouragements about questions we haven't intentionally explored?
How should Palestine represent itself better to the world?
How great would that be?
We're working hard, but is it the right work?
Are the metrics that you're using the right metrics?
What's next?
What can we make happen next?
Where am I heading?
Where, where next?
What is the best place for folks to engage with you and learn more about what you're excited about?
"Be careful of the question you ask because you're going to get a response, and you need to do something with it." - Jimmy D. Smith
Smith is currently serving in dual-CEO roles. In April 2023, Smith started “Smith Advisory Consulting” after retiring as a member of the Senior Executive Service after 32 years at the Department of the Navy. A year ago, Smith joined Pacific Engineering Incorporated, a Nebraska composite material design and manufacturing company.
In 2019, Smith served as the Small Business Director for the Department of the Navy. There, he was the chief advisor to the Secretary of the Navy on all small business matters. In 2017, Smith served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Programs & Logistics Management. In 2013, Smith served as the Director for Integrated Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security within the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs. He was charged with the safekeeping of nearly 70% of the Nation’s nuclear arsenal. Smith has held other notable positions for both the Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine (SSGN) Program and the Virginia Class Submarine Program.
Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Tuskegee University. He has completed extensive graduate-level studies and possesses four executive leadership certificates. Smith has championed Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs for grade school students and is a strong advocate for furthering the academic pursuits of college students through scholarships and student employment opportunities.
Smith shares his inspiring career journey from an aspiring pilot to a guardian of the nation's nuclear arsenal, highlighting the importance of persistent inquiry, mentorship, and community engagement. He discusses his unique work habits and strategies for career advancement and introduces the 'Talk Backwards' methodology for relationship building. Smith also emphasizes selflessness, integrity, and his initiatives in STEM programs, particularly with HBCUs, providing scholarships, internships, and job opportunities. Personal anecdotes and life lessons from his mentor, Vice Admiral Paul Sullivan, are woven throughout, encouraging listeners to question, grow, and help others succeed.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes
[01:13] Smith's Early Career and Achievements
[04:36] Learning to Fly at 14-Years-Old
[10:35] Capitalizing on opportunities
[13:12] Mentorship and Career Growth
[25:59] The Importance of Asking Thoughtful Questions
[27:12] How The Submarine Community Asks Questions
[29:07] Non-verbal Communication and Digging Deeper
[34:49] Listening to Make Decisions
[43:30] Developing High EQ Through Active Listening
[56:19] Embracing Friction for Progress
[58:57] Building Culture Intentionally
[01:09:04] A Mentorship Masterclass
[01:14:26] Coaching, Mentoring, and Advocating
[01:21:41] Strategies to Capitalize on Opportunities
[01:25:37] TALK Backwards Explained
[01:28:54] Investing in STEM and HBCUs
[01:39:39] Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Resources Mentioned
Mr. and Mrs. Dragoo
Eastern Airlines
Brown Flying School
Vice Admiral Paul Sullivan
Naval Sea Systems Command
PEO Submarines
Mr. Jack Evans (SES)
Lie To Me
Vice Admiral Terry Benedict
MIT
Penn State Applied Research Lab
Anthony Martin
Jimmy's email address: [email protected]
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
When did you first understand the power of questions?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Can you tell me how your mentoring started?
Why did an engineer put that valve there?
What was your process for developing questions?
How would you interrogate this particular example?
What kind of questions would you ask of yourself to get through?
What were some expanding questions that the Admiral asked you?
What just happened?
how did you get to that point?
Are you getting someone looking in your eye?
Are they doing the eyes up and to the right?
How do you know when you need to keep asking questions?
Can you believe what you're being told?
How did you get here?
Did they do what they were supposed to do when they gave me that response?
Did they behave the way I thought they were going to behave?
Is the answer a logical, thoughtful answer?
Do you have any particular processes or favorite questions you have used in relation to making decisions?
If this were the case, would that answer still be what you think it should be?
If that broke, and that broke, and that broke, do we lose lives?
Did you ever struggle with the notion that if I ask a question, I'm going to look stupid?
How did you develop your EQ consciousness?
If you ever got into a situation where you had a concern come up like this scenario, who would you go talk to?
How have you used questions to inspire the organizations that you've led?
How do you use friction strategically?
Why are we doing this?
How do you differentiate between coaching, mentoring, and advocating?
What are you doing now?
What are you doing to give back?
"I always knew from that point on that a good question could get you to the most powerful person on earth." - Cal Fussman
Cal has lived an exciting and passionate life in which questions have played a key role. His experiences place him at the top of the list of the most interesting of people. He has either been there and done that himself, or hung out with those who have.
Cal grew up in Long Island, New York, and attended college in Missouri. He went from writing sports articles and having drinks with the likes of Hunter S. Thompson, to worldwide wanderer for ten years, to writing for Esquire magazine and interviewing Muhammad Ali, Mikhail Gorbachev, Serena Williams, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and other icons of the last 75 years, to a decade of eating daily breakfast with communications master, Larry King, to hosting the Big Questions Podcast and speaking about how to harness the power of questions.
Cal shares anecdotes from his experiences, such as the impact of writing to President Lyndon B. Johnson at seven, his path through journalism school, and his unique interviewing style that emphasizes curiosity and connection. From interviewing world leaders and celebrities to teaching corporate workshops on communication, Cal explains how thoughtful questioning can build trust, foster belonging, and elicit profound insights. He also reflects on his travels and the importance of understanding core human stories. The conversation underscores the transformative power of questions in shaping lives and careers.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes
[02:28] The Inaugural Question: A Childhood Curiosity
[09:05] From Childhood to Journalism: The Evolution of a Questioner
[13:25] Breaking into Sports Journalism: A Pivotal Moment in Nebraska
[23:37] The Art of Asking: Crafting Questions with Impact
[28:28] Creating Comfort in Conversations
[29:40] The Evolution of Questions
[31:12] Traveling the World with No Money
[35:52] Interviewing World Leaders and Celebrities
[37:26] Connecting in the Age of Remote Work
[39:45] The Power of Vulnerability in Storytelling
[44:58] Different Interview Styles
[51:11] The Power of Personal Stories
[56:00] Conclusion and Contact Information
Resources Mentioned
Cal Fussman
Hunter S. Thompson
Muhammad Ali
Mikhail Gorbachev
Serena Williams
Jeff Bezos
Richard Branson
Big Questions Podcast
Tim Ferriss
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
University of Missouri
University of Nebraska
Tom Osborne
New York Yankees
George Steinbrenner
Miami Herald
St. Louis Post Dispatch
Johnny Depp
Inside Sports
Jimmy Carter
Donald Trump
Jack Welch
Larry King
Biq Questions Episode Larry King: The Great Farewell
Charlie Rose
Oprah Winfrey
Barbara Walters
Derek Sivers
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
How has your use of questions changed, but also remain the same through these various chapters in your life?
What's this guy feeling right now?
How does he feel?
Is he happy to be the president?
Is he sad to be the president because he's only the president because of the assassination?
How did your questioning technique evolve as you got older?
Hey, if I want to do what you do, where do I go?
Is this Kramer Hall?
Are you using that press pass right now?
How could you possibly prepare for what happened?
Why is it that no one else asked that question?
What goes into your preparation to format the question so that it's easier to receive and still gets at the heart of the matter?
So, is your intuition/insight into being able to get to that based on research that you do?
Is that true that you're using questions as a form to create belonging or foster belonging?
Is that like a list of five questions that you always use, is that a heart posture of worldview?
What kind of structure are you putting around that?
You think it'd feel that way if the person worked next to you and you knew that your kids went to the same elementary school, and you went down the elevator and talked about commonality?
An encouragement for folks to find a style that works for you and just keep playing with that and honing that style. Is that a fair conclusion?
Who's the first person that comes to mind, being most successful?
Have there been any particular questions that you have carried with you through your life?
Who is this person?
What made this person?
What are the events that shaped that person's life?
Have there been any other instances where you found your research paid off in such rich dividends?
"We're very much unprepared to meet another life form because we're unprepared to meet ourselves." - Nikki Giovanni
Ms. Nikki Giovanni is a titan of American poetry, activism, and education. With a career spanning over five decades, her powerful voice has shaped literature, inspired generations, and challenged societal norms. Ms. Giovanni has established herself as one of the most influential figures in American literature and the Black Arts Movement, fueled by her participation in the 1960s Black Power movement. Her work explores race, gender, sexuality, and the Black American experience.
Nikki has published dozens of volumes of poetry, essays, illustrated children’s books, and edited anthologies. Her list of nominations and awards is exhaustive and spans the written word, music, culture, and film. She is an Emerita Professor at Virginia Tech, where she taught for 35 years in the Department of English. The 2023 award-winning documentary Going To Mars combined her biographical story with her deep love of space.
The conversation explores Nikki's reflections on the significance of the power of words, influential librarians, and growing up Black in America. Giovanni shares impactful moments and discusses age, curiosity, societal challenges, and learning philosophies. The dialogue delves into her deep understanding of history, human nature, black women's significance, and space exploration. Giovanni's personal anecdotes and poems provide a rich narrative on societal issues, the beauty of nature, joy, curiosity, and the importance of chosen relationships over familial ties.
Episode Notes
Discovering the power of words [2:17]
Reflections on Aging and Health [5:56]
Human Evolution and Environmental Concerns [10:16]
Social Issues and Personal Beliefs [16:05]
An American racial snapshot [23:25]
The Role of Teachers and Librarians [26:10]
Teaching college students about slavery [36:52]
Contemplating the Galaxy and Space Exploration [42:24]
Appalachian Hospitality [44:30]
The Role of the Supreme Court and Civic Education [45:42]
Appalachian Culture and Historical Significance [47:07]
Names, Words, and Personal Identity [51:02]
The Language of Dogs and Human-Dog Relationships [54:54]
The Significance of Spirituals and Folktales [58:38]
Reflections on Family and Love [1:02:01]
The Concept of Safety [1:11:42]
Interactions with Wildlife [1:16:15]
Finding Balance in Life's Challenges [1:21:00]
The Yellowjacket, Ego Trippin, and The Wisdom of Black Women [1:29:58]
Engagement with the Civil Rights Movement [1:38:08]
Exploring the Universe and Beyond [1:45:12]
Culinary Aspirations and Final Thoughts [1:53:02]
Resources Mentioned
Joe Biden
Queen Elizabeth
King Charles
Prince Phillip
Dr. Robert J. Baker University of Texas
Leaf-Nosed Bat named for Nikki Giovanni
Caitlin Clark
Billie Jean King
Bobby Riggs
Rosa Parks
Ron DeSantis
A Library by Nikki Giovanni
Mrs. Long (librarian)
Sister Althea (teacher)
Flora Alexander (teacher)
Rachel Carson
Andrew Carnegie
Charles Darwin
Kwame Alexander
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Viola Liuzzo
The Isley Brothers
Carol Jenkins
The Godfather
Mario Puzo
Marlon Brando
I Married My Mother (poem) by Nikki Giovanni
Willie Mays
Titanic
Elmer Gantry
Donald Trump
The Yellow Jacket (poem) by Nikki Giovanni
Ego Trippin (poem) by Nikki Giovanni
Pullman Porters
Louis Armstrong
Thurgood Marshall
Nat King Cole
Nikki-Rosa (poem) by Nikki Giovanni
Dr. Charles Bolden
Bobby Flay
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
When did you first understand the power of questions?
How do you use questions in your creative process?
Why did somebody say this?
Why do we think this way?
Why do we do something right now?
How have your questions changed over the decades?
What are we missing?
What is the life in the rest of the galaxy?
What does it mean to be alive?
Has that changed for you over the years?
Have you been wrestling with some of these [questions] for a while?
Are there any particular questions you carry with you and revisit?
What is the constitution by which we live?
What are we seeking to go forward to?
How do you see any intersection with questions in the spirituals?
What does it mean to pray?
Why would I intrude?
How come grandmother never goes to the market?
How do you think of the term courage?
What kind of slave owner would you be?
Don't you know that hurts?
How do you use questions to bring to bear the wisdom of black women?
How long will it take her to recognize that buying this car was not a good idea?
"When I've been doing one thing or staying in one place for a while, It actively feels harmful to keep doing the same thing I've been doing." - Derek Sivers
Derek is a unique human who consistently pushes the edges of convention, tests his assumptions, and embraces the new realities he finds on the other side. His identities have included musician, circus ringmaster, traveler, entrepreneur, father, programmer, speaker, and author. Derek gave three TED Talks in 2010, which have amassed 23 million views. His latest book, "Useful Not True" will be released in 2024. Although American, he is a world citizen living in New Zealand and is true to his word regarding answering email.
Derek delves into his experiences with questioning assumptions, pushing boundaries, and the role of journaling for self-reflection. The conversation encompasses topics like the importance of reframing perspectives, cultural differences in questioning, and Sivers' embrace of minimalism. He advocates for reframing situations and adopting beliefs that are useful over what is "true." Practical advice and anecdotes underscore the value of curiosity and inquiry, offering valuable insights into leading a more examined life through the transformative power of questions.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes:
Discovering the power of questions [1:42]
Reframing and journaling [6:06]
A circus boss builds Derek's confidence [7:50]
Derek's journalism practice [9:20]
The benefits of daily journaling [12:08]
Journals as a tool for remembering and decision-making [16:45]
The benefits of an electronic journal [23:13]
Derek's only recurring question [25:28]
Sherlock Holmes [26:18]
Questions that should be asked more [28:22]
A primary value that drove selling his company, CD Baby [30:46]
Cultivating a growth mindset [35:34]
Doing the scary thing [38:19]
Changing identities [43:47]
Questions in other countries [49:12]
Language and living abroad [59:57]
Pet rats: a surprising joy [1:02:18]
Favorite books that engage questions [1:07:16]
Derek's new book Useful Not True [1:10:11]
Minimalism and life choices [1:14:52]
The power of questions in conversations [1:20:36]
Where to find Derek [1:25:19]
Resources Mentioned
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
O.J. Simpson
Michael Jackson
Useful Not True by Derek Sivers
Anything You Want by Derek Sivers
Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers
Sherlock Holmes
Amy Herman
Spirograph
Abraham Maslow
Miles Davis
David Bowie
Pablo Picasso
Malcolm Gladwell
Ta Nehisi Coates
The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi
SUM Tales of the Afterlife by David Eagleman
StudioBricks
Alicia Souza
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
Why am I such an idiot?
What's great about this?
Why am I so confident?
How do questions inform journaling?
why am I upset?
What am I confused about?
How am I going to make this decision?
What's the real point?
What are my options here?
What am I really after?
How else could I think about this?
Why am I doing that?
Is that just leading to something else?
Why is that upsetting?
What's another way to think about this?
What else could it be?
Do you come back to the journals?
Do you do any kind of review process?
Why is this bothering me?
What's another way I could think about this?
Is that what's really bothering me about this?
How could I have reacted?
How would I like it to be in a perfect world?
What would be my ideal scenario?
What would be the most generous way to look at this?
Am I being too generous?
Have I been not selfish enough?
Have I not been doing enough self-care?
What else could it be?
What questions do you think should be asked more or ignored?
What's another way of looking at this?
What's a better way of looking at this?
Any other thoughts or encouragement about how questions might be used that we haven't touched on already?
Where's the best place for folks to engage with you and learn more about what you're excited about?
Why am I stuck?
Why am I not stuck?
Why is this not working out for me?
How can I make it work out more?
How can I make it work out less?
What would be a worse way of doing this?
What would be the stupidest thing I could do right now?
What's the opposite of this?
What's almost the opposite?
Why am I such an idiot?
Why do things never work out for me?
Why do I keep sabotaging myself?
Why am I stuck in this awful place?
What would be the uncomfortable thing?
What's another way to see this?
What's best for your family?
What's best for others?
Would buying this thing give me more status?
Would this job give me more status?
Why am I limiting myself to saying I'm an introvert?
Why do I think that person's being rude?
Could it be that they have different values?
Are they acting in a way that they're proud of right now?
Do they want to be this way?
Are they at their wit's end and short-circuiting and acting in a way they don't actually want to be acting either?
Any particular books that handle questions in new or creative ways?
Why are you saying you believe this?
What the hell is true anyway?
What questions do you ask of an item in order to become one of your things?
Am I really going to want to take care of that for the rest of its life for the rest of my life?
Do I really want that in my space?
Will that complicate my life?
Will that take up room?
Will that make it harder for me to leave on a moment's notice?
Would that hold me back?
Does this ever happen to you?
Why do you think we love a particular song?
What do you want more of?
What do I need less of?
Why do I think I need more?
Is more the solution?
Is less the solution here?
"Connection is the sharing of one person's experience, that leaves both people better" - Brian Fretwell
Brian, the Founder of Finding Good, is on a mission to transform conversations. His unique methodology, rooted in the science of connection, has the power to turn listening from a transaction into a transformation. It's a beacon of hope for those seeking more meaningful interactions.
Brian has explored how listening can be the most effective tool for change when we use the right questions. He also touches upon the concept of 'experience vs projection,' highlighting how our own experiences can sometimes cloud our understanding of others. As a teacher in juvenile corrections, he saw how better questions influence behaviors. As a facilitator and consultant in mining, oil, and gas companies, he helped people see how better listening can help save lives. Today, he works with individuals, entire school districts, and large organizations to develop stronger connections through the power of questions. His TEDx talk has over 2.5 million views, and his social media posts have also garnered millions of views.
Brian weaves together how neuroscience, community, and our stories form the bonds of connection with those we choose to engage. During a portion of the conversation, he uses the Success Mapping framework to understand Ken's motivation for this podcast. He then introduces the 'blueberries' analogy, a metaphor for personal experiences, and explains how genuine curiosity about these experiences is critical to real connection and a path toward addressing loneliness.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes:
Setting up the anchoring point for this conversation format [2:45]
The importance of story [4:55]
The vulnerability of sharing what we are proud of [6:52]
A changed view in how to use questions through the context of connection [14:15]
Experience vs projection [16:43]
Success Mapping [19:21]
The experience that kicked off the podcast that includes hope and gratitude [21:16]
Following the results of the Success Map [36:43]
Blueberries and how our brains are wired [38:10]
Leading with self-interest [41:25]
Intentional listening [46:54]
The four stages of interactions [48:26]
Deep connection with those you care about [52:51]
A practical example of a mutual value exchange [57:16]
Daily connection opportunities [1:01:00]
Ken sees a throughline [1:04:40]
Loneliness, identity, and finding connection in others story [1:08:09]
Connection, even across the political divide [1:14:53]
Zoom call conversations [1:17:54]
Changing organizational culture [1:20:37]
How else questions might be used [1:21:49]
The best places to find Brian [1:24:53]
Resources Mentioned
Finding Good
The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson
Brené Brown
Austin Graff
Together by Vivek Murthy
Matthew Lieberman
Naomi Eisenberger
Philippa Pham Hughes
The Phillips Collection
Ronald Reagan
https://www.findinggood.com/the-basics/ promo code (CURATEDPERKS2024)
Check out other resources here: https://www.findinggood.com/links
Brian's contact info:
[email protected]
TikTok
YouTube
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
What do you mean?
Which one is less dangerous?
Where did you feel success?
What day would you pick that kicked off the podcast?
But what would you miss?
What was different about that day?
How do you know you were looking for hope?
What was driving you to look for hope?
What is it that you had that allowed you to seek the hope?
Were there things you did unintentionally to develop strength of gratitude?
Who's one person whose life is better because you have this strength?
What did that person end up with more of?
Have you ever thought about the story in that way?
What can you do with it here?
Have you ever thought about your story in this way?
How interested did you feel I was?
how many times did you think to yourself, I'm talking too much?
How are you?
What was the best part of your day?
Can you tell me one good thing that happened to you today?
What part of my story you're interested in today?
What's the muscle that lets that happen?
How do I find myself in the other person's story?
Are you saying that we can even do that across the political divide?
What went well in the last week?
Any other thoughts or encouragement about how questions might be used that we haven't touched on already?
Where's the best place for folks to engage with you and learn more about what you're excited about?
"My biggest transition was going from asking questions from a knowledge-focused perspective to asking questions from an understanding perspective." - Steffanie Easter
Steffanie Easter grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and is a proud alumnus of North Carolina State, where she earned her chemical engineering undergraduate degree and, later, from the Catholic University of America, a master's degree in engineering. The latter portion of her illustrious 34-year career as a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian includes positions such as executive director of the Navy's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology and the first civilian director of Navy staff for the Chief of Naval operations.
Steffanie was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 2002. She has been recognized with multiple awards including the Presidential Rank Award, the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Army Exceptional Civilian Service Award, and the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award. She also received the 2010 Black Engineer of the Year Award for Professional Achievement and the 2009 Women of Color Award for Managerial Leadership.
Since 2020, Steffanie has shifted to the private sector and served as a strategy executive and board member, helping companies work with the government.
Steffanie recounts learning through asking questions while growing up and her early career as a US Navy civilian. She explains mentors' impact in shaping her inquisitive leadership style, what taking risks looks like, and how to lead with transparency. Additionally, Steffanie discusses navigating power structures as a minority woman decision-maker, how one can be an ally through effective leadership, and her current pursuit of improving as a listener and practicing self-care.
Episode Notes:
Steffanie explains how she learned half an inch makes a difference on something as big as an aircraft carrier [2:20]
Defining the role of a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian [3:55]
Curiosity and questions growing up [5:30]
Understanding the power of questions [7:16]
Using questions to lead and put people at ease [8:07}
Mentors that modeled asking questions [9:50]
Taking risks and persisting [12:50]
Transitioning from doer to leader of doers and from knowing to understanding [23:20]
Coming to grips with not knowing everything and having to ask questions [26:30]
Leading with transparency [31:30]
Navigating the halls of power as a minority woman [34:30]
Building confidence is a continual process while remaining true to self [38:45]
How to be an ally to minorities [43:50]
The consistency between government and industry [48:05]
What people should know about the DoD [49:02]
Favorite questions [49:37]
Getting better at asking questions [53:00]
Questions at home [54:49]
Life as a beginner in self-care and listening more closely [59:00]
Additional question application [1:03:18]
Resources Mentioned
Department of Defense Civilian
Vice Admiral John Lockhard
Admiral Mark E Ferguson III
NAVSEA
NAVAIR
Steffanie Easter on LinkedIn
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
What did you learn about the difference a half an inch makes on an aircraft carrier?
What is the role of a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian?
Were curiosity and questions a part of your childhood, and how so?
Where's the best place for folks to engage with you and learn more about what you're excited about?
Were your parents open to the difficult questions?
When did you learn the power of questions?
Did you have any mentors to model the use of questions?
What do you think you want to do?
Did you immediately add these tools to your toolbox?
How are you taking risks?
How do you persist?
What is your process for evaluating risk?
How did your questions change as you made that transition from doer to leader of doers?
How is your day going?
What was the internal talk when you thought that you should know the answer?
Why do I have to be the one to always ask?
I understand that to mean this; is that what you are talking about?
What does your product do?
As a black woman, how did you use questions to mitigate potential stereotypes in a field where few looked like you?
Am I missing anything?
What things could I [as a White male} do or do you think would be helpful?
How have questions changed between the government and industry?
What would you like people to know about the DOD?
What questions do you enjoy asking?
What does that look like for you?
How have you strengthened your question-asking game?
Does your family encounter your curiosity and questions at home or is it reserved only for work?
Will you just stop asking so many questions?
Why do you have to know everything?
What happened today at school?
What questions did you use to draw out details from your kids?
Who would you invite if we did something at the house?
What area of your life are you a beginner?
What is your metric for knowing you are getting better at listening?
When are you gonna start doing what you're saying?
Any other thoughts or encouragements about how questions might be used that we haven't touched on?
Where is the best place for folks to engage with you?
Would you be open to doing this?
"Our inability to ask better questions of each other, and build proximity, is the reason why we went from larger porches and shorter fences to taller fences and smaller porches." - Bobby Morgan
Bobby Morgan is passionate about education and started his career teaching math in Camden, New Jersey, which was voted one of the most dangerous cities to live in. The students taught him a lot. He is now an assistant principal in New Jersey's Willingboro Township school district outside Philadelphia. As a school district board member, he gains further insight into the inner workings and challenges school districts face.
Additionally, Bobby is a speaker and consultant who builds disruptive educators through culturally responsive teaching, social justice education, and restorative practices. Much of this work is publicly expressed through The Liberation Lab Podcast.
Bobby Morgan opens the episode by recounting the realization that his approach to teaching did not inspire the intended results in his students. This realization prompted a process of unlearning while asking questions and listening to the very students he was there to teach. This conversation provides an exhaustive list of questions for students, teachers, parents, and anyone involved with school-aged kids... and we are all students. Bobby provides practical, real-world examples of meaningful ways to serve every aspect of the educational system by building disruptive educators.
Episode Notes
Bobby discusses his experience being a math teacher in Camden, New Jersey, and unlearning negative behaviors [2:10]
How we can encourage students to show up in their full humanity to class [9:00]
The good news stories are kept from us to maintain a single narrative [11:10]
Understanding personal bias and getting curious with one another again [16:00]
How questions and power affected curiosity growing up [21:15]
Children are by nature curious and how to encourage helpful dialog [24:40]
Discovering the power of questions [27:40]
Engaging Internet trolls [31:50]
Engaging students and parents with questions [32:25]
Questions parents should be asking of their schools [36:28]
Fostering equity and justice in the classroom [42:10]
Engaging the community beyond the school grounds [49:45]
Lessons from the movie Mulan [54:05]
You can't teach what you refuse to see [56:10]
What are you thinking when kids are not asking questions [59:39]
Are we conditioning and teaching for the results we want in the future [1:03:55]
How teachers can embrace AI in the classroom [1:07:55]
Asking questions of myself [1:11:20]
Curiosity at home [1:14:10]
Engaging parents in difficult conversations [1:15:15]
The Liberation Lab [1:17:47]
The Liberation Lab Podcast [1:22:25]
A radical dream of not being needed [1:25:08]
Resources Mentioned
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
My Liberation Lab website
Mulan
James Baldwin
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
ChatGPT
The Liberation Lab Podcast with Keisha Garrison
Dion Sanders (Coach Prime)
Bobby Morgan on LinkedIn
Beauty Pill
Producer Ben Ford
Questions Asked
What did the kids in Camden teach you?
What is a practical example of you coming to your students with the wrong perspective?
What does disrespectful, defiant, and disruptive mean to a teacher?
Where did the relationship go from there?
Were curiosity and questions a part of your childhood?
Do the children in your life have free reign to ask you questions on anything and everything?
Why do they look like that?
Am I hearing you, that you are noticing a difference?
Why is that different than how I normally see people?
Isn't his skin beautiful?
What if that curiosity that the child had was used as a launching point to talk about the beauty in our differences rather than shushing?
When did you first understand the power of questions?
Why is it that when I see me in a book, there's some violence or something wrong happening?
Why wasn't there better representation [in textbooks]?
How did [the power of questions] express itself with students and parents?
What do the numbers on an assessment mean, and why does it matter?
Does your kid really have mastery over this standard?
Can they operate with this skill in the real world, and is it something that is transferable?
Do they know how to do this thing?
Are there standard questions parents should be asking?
Can people who are different from you show up and be their authentic selves here?
who is most different from you on your team, and how do you make that work in your leadership?
When was the last time they reviewed their code of conduct policy, and is it consistent with the current students?
What was a time when a teacher on your staff needed instruction or improvement, and how did you support them?
What do you do to support teachers who don't meet the mark?
How do you ensure there is instructional excellence in your classroom?
What does a student's grade really mean?
What are the gaps in my child's learning?
What are you doing as a teacher to help close the gap?
What could I be doing to support at home so that we can fill these gaps?
How can we work together to fill any instructional gaps in my child's education?
How can we foster equity and justice in the classroom?
Do you have adequate Wi-Fi at home?
Do you have a place to work quietly at your home?
Do you have a space to sharpen your pencils?
If grades are about skill, then why am I grading the time in which it came in?
Who is supported by this rule, practice, policy, or procedure?
Who is left out by this rule, practice, policy, and procedure?
Why are they left out by this rural practice policy or procedure?
How do I change this rule, practice, policy, or procedure to better support everyone in my learning community?
Who was harmed by that action?
How can we make that right?
Do you think that only the student you said it about was hurt by it?
Have you ever been mad still after somebody apologized for something they did to you?
When somebody apologizes to you, does it always make it right?
What if we saw the community around our schools as a strength?
What if there were ways the community could teach us how to better serve?
What if instead of asking families to come to the school all the time, we showed up in their places of value, of their places, of meeting spaces?
What if I didn't have parent-teacher conferences or an event at the school? I instead had it at the community center where they're already showing up. What would that say and communicate to the community if I'm willing to show up on their terms?
What if this little task right here is serving such a better purpose, would you be willing to allow me to show you how that works?
What goes through your mind when the kids are not asking questions?
Who silenced you?
Who told you that your voice doesn't belong here?
What are you trying to tell me right now?
When you raise your voice, do you think I hear you better?
How can I do a better job of listening to you when you're talking?
Is she really better in class or is it just better for you?
Is she alive in your class? Does she feel valued, seen, and supported? Does she feel like she belongs and she's supposed to be here?
What are those conditions that we have established for someone to show up?
What about the Baldwins in your classroom, whose genius could be seen if we allowed them the creative license to think outside the box? How can we create space for that?
Have there been any times when you've been scared to ask questions?
Who am I, and what makes me tick?
Does your family encounter your curiosity and questions?
How do you prepare for meeting with parents and students?
Do you have a favorite question to get a breakthrough?
If we switched places right now and you were in my seat, what would you do differently or what would you want to be done?
Can you trust me in the process? If it doesn't, we could revisit it. Is that all right?
What is the changes you're seeking to make with The Liberation Lab?
How do we best relate to students when they blow it?
What are our code of conduct and our policies, created to do?
What is the impact you would like the Liberation Lab to achieve?
How might questions be used that we haven't touched on?
Where's the best place for folks to engage with you and learn more about what you're excited about?
The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.