Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions!

Who Benefits From Me Believing This? | Andrew Caulk #79

Curated Questions — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

"It is easier simply to tell the truth, even if you've made a mistake, because what it does is build credibility over time." - Andrew Caulk

What happens when the questions leaders most need to ask are the ones they're most afraid to voice? Andrew Caulk spent two decades in the Air Force as an information strategist, and he's seen how institutions, military, political, and personal, manage their narratives by avoiding the hardest inquiries.

In this conversation, Andrew and Ken explore how misinformation and disinformation actually work, why truth is more strategically sustainable than deception, and how the attention economy is quietly rewiring our ability to think slowly.

Andrew shares what senior leaders refused to ask aloud in military war games, what the casualty projections for a Taiwan conflict actually look like, and why American will to fight may be the most underexamined variable in geopolitical strategy.

The conversation also turns to children, curiosity, and how the questions we allow, or suppress, in our homes shape the next generation's capacity to navigate a noisy world.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions?))

Keep questioning!

Resources Mentioned

Cognitive Strategy Group

Right to Forget Law

Helio Fred Garcia

Inside The Manosphere documentary

Battlefield Three

Ad Fontis Media Bias Chart

Trust Me, I'm Lying by Ryan Holiday

Anchorman 2

Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal

Associated Press (AP)

cognitive strategy group.com

Being Human Church

Dr. Kori Schake

Jim Mattis

Andrew Caulk on LinkedIn

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

The Question Asked in the Wrong Room | Ken Woodward #78

Curated Questions — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:02:00 -0000

"Those scripts are not wisdom. They are load-bearing walls for other people's power." - Ken Woodward

Every room has a question nobody asks. Sometimes that's a failure of courage. Sometimes it's something else entirely, a hierarchy so explicit it pre-sorts who is permitted to speak before anyone opens their mouth.

In this episode, Ken reflects on a $100M federal acquisition program derailed by a senior stakeholder who wielded disruption as a weapon. The question that could have changed the outcome existed. It just never reached the person who needed to hear it.

Drawing on that experience, a chance conversation with a Vietnamese businessman named Kien, and the current civic moment, Ken explores why we swallow necessary questions, and what it costs us when we do. He offers a ladder of micro-courage for asking harder questions at every level of power, from the private to the public square.

One braver question. That's the practice. That's where it starts.

Fellow pilgrims, this one's for the rooms we've all been in.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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The Questions We Didn't Ask Our Grandmothers | Jenny Chan #77

Curated Questions — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

"The most powerful questions aren't really the ones that demand an answer, but really demand a presence." - Jenny Chan

Jenny Chan founded Pacific Atrocities Education after her grandmother's death surfaced a box of wartime relics of military yen, rice rationing coupons, and decades of unexplained anger toward Japanese culture. That inheritance of unasked questions launched Jenny into the hidden history of the Pacific Asian War: comfort women, Unit 731's biological experimentation program, and the postwar immunity deals that let war criminals become CEOs and prime ministers.

Jenny's research method centers on presence before inquiry. Sitting with survivors long enough to earn the right to ask hard questions. She sees historical memory not as a burden but as an essential context for understanding today's geopolitical decisions. Her work with survivors, students, and Japanese citizens seeking truth suggests that healing begins when forgotten stories are finally allowed to be told.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions?))

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The Questions You're Living Inside: How to Stop Answering Questions You Never Chose-Ken Woodward #76

Curated Questions — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

"The harm was architectural. It was not a matter of intention. It was a matter of never checking the blueprint before I opened my mouth." - Ken Woodward

The Questions You're Living Inside: How to Stop Answering Questions You Never Chose is the premise of this week's solo episode.

Every question builds a room. Most of us never notice the construction.

In this solo episode, Ken Woodward explores what he calls the architecture of questions, the load-bearing assumptions embedded in every question we ask, answer, or inherit. Using a morning commute observation about a flatbed truck carrying prefabricated wall panels, Ken unpacks why the questions shaping our lives were often built by someone else, for someone else's benefit.

Through two anchor stories, a painful misheard exchange during his 2,085-mile walk through Washington D.C., and an emotional moment from his conversation with Naomi Campbell of the Right Question Institute, Ken traces the difference between a question's skeleton and its resonance.

The invitation is not demolition. It is something prior to answering.

Read the blueprint first.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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It's Not The Answers — It's Having the Questions | Phil Liebman #75

Curated Questions — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

"It's not having the answers I teach people — it's having the questions. And that just upsets the entire architecture of safe thinking." - Phil Liebman

Phil Liebman spent years being mentored by one of the most relentless questioners he'd ever encountered. It changed everything about how he leads and coaches. In this conversation, Phil unpacks the difference between knowing mode and learning mode, why most of us were systematically educated out of curiosity, and what it actually takes to form a powerful question.

He introduces his cycle of curiosity and certainty, a four-quadrant framework that explains why three-quarters of the best thinking happens before any action is taken.

Phil shares hard-won lessons from decades of executive coaching, traces his intellectual foundation back to mentor Dr. Lee Thayer, and makes the case that leadership is a performing art, not a management science.

The episode closes with a personal health scare that became an unexpected masterclass in what curiosity can do when fear shows up uninvited.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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Resources Mentioned

ALPS Leadership (https://alpsleadership.com/)

Dr. Lee Thayer (https://thethayerinstitute.org/about-us/)

Vistage (https://www.vistage.com/)

Lynn Borton - Choose to Be Curious podcast (https://lynnborton.com/)

Stony Brook University (https://www.stonybrook.edu/)

Elon Musk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk)

John Cleese (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cleese)

Grace Hopper (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper)

Leonardo da Vinci quote: "It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sit back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."

Pablo Picasso (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso)

Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center (https://www.msmc.com/comprehensive-cancer-center/)

Phil Liebman on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/philiprliebman)

Producer Ben Ford (https://www.producerbenford.com/)

Beauty Pill (https://www.beautypill.com/)

How Questions Can Save A Fractured Democracy | Eila Park Robertson #74

Curated Questions — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

"Lean into courage and see what happens." - Eila Park Robertson

Former ABC News journalist, award‑winning filmmaker, and crisis communications strategist Eila Park Robertson joins Curated Questions to explore what happens “when listening saves democracy.”

Drawing from a childhood navigating violence, immigration, and loneliness, Eila shares how asking genuine questions became her superpower for building trust with people who would never normally talk to the media. She explains why Western culture has forgotten how to listen, how that loss feeds polarization, and what it really takes to build bridges across political and ideological divides, starting with presence, curiosity, and courage.

Eila and Ken dive into introverts as secret leaders of the room, why outrage‑only politics is burning us out, and how personal relationships can transform deeply held beliefs. They also explore climate storytelling, South Korea’s fight against authoritarianism, and practical ways to resist despair and rebuild community in an age of fractured attention.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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Resources Mentioned

ABC News

Anecdotia

Vogue Magazine Wedding Article

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Azzedine Downes, CEO IFAW

United Nations

Kelly Boesch

Eila on Instagram (@eila2.2)

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Mortar & Pestle: The Fragrance Of An Intentional Life | Ken Woodward #73

Curated Questions — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:15:00 -0000

"There's a difference between avoidance and stewardship of our own attention." - Ken Woodward

When life grinds us down, something essential is revealed. In this solo episode, Ken Woodward explores why questions are the fundamental technology humans use to make sense of a world that has broken wide open.

Drawing from a personal essay about growing up in rural Arizona and the disorienting experience of having a lifelong worldview bubble pop, Ken examines the overwhelming flood of inputs modern life delivers and why not every question in that flood is yours to carry.

He contrasts two kinds of wisdom, the certainty-hardened and the question-exhausted, and makes the case that the most meaningful conversations happen with people who have crossed a difficult threshold and been changed by it. The grinding of life, like a mortar and pestle, doesn't destroy us. It reveals us.

The fragrance was always there, waiting.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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The Alchemy of Questions: What Defended Answers Cost | Ken Woodward #72

Curated Questions — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

"Every deflection is a small tax." - Ken Woodward

In this solo episode of Curated Questions, Ken Woodward explores the hidden cost of defended answers and the quiet exhaustion that comes from maintaining stories that no longer fit. Drawing on conversations with Kevin Kelly and Phil Liebman, he examines the difference between exploitation and exploration, and why deep questioning is inherently inefficient.

Through metaphors of strip mining, sinkholes, and live wires, Ken shows how cultures and individuals enforce authorized stopping points that keep conversations at the surface. A personal story about a pivotal career decision illustrates how a single honest answer can release stored energy and create unexpected freedom.

The alchemy of questions is not about uncovering better information. It is about creating conditions where truth costs less than performance. When we stay past discomfort and refuse to stop too soon, something shifts. The energy returns. That return is liberation.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

Keep questioning!

Resources Mentioned

The Cost of Wonder | Ken Woodward #71

Curated Questions — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

"The only cost of liberation is the decision to pay attention." - Ken Woodward

In this solo episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward reflects on wonder, not as a luxury, but as a necessary practice for resilience.

Drawing from his experience aboard a U.S. Navy submarine in the gray winters of Connecticut, Ken recounts how weeks without color prepared him to recognize wonder the moment it returned. This memory becomes a lens for the present day, where constant crisis, scrolling, and AI-generated spectacle quietly dull our capacity to be moved.

Ken weaves research, poetry, and personal practice to argue that real wonder has a cost: attention, specificity, and presence. From nature journaling prompts to insights from trauma research, he shows how precise noticing can interrupt numbness and restore resilience.

Wonder, he suggests, doesn’t require mountaintops or submarines. Only the decision to stop, look again, and lower the threshold. The invitation is simple and demanding: reclaim reverence by paying attention to what’s already here.

Wonder is not gone. It’s waiting to be noticed.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

Keep questioning!

Resources Mentioned

Groton, Connecticut

Cole Arthur Riley

Lynn Borton

Choose To Be Curious - John Muir Laws episode

Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections On Our Yearning To Belong by John O'Donohue

Romanesco Broccoli

This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Refined, Not Defined: Discipline of Relentless Resilience | Dr. John A. King #70

Curated Questions — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Summary

"They’re literally allowing their past to define them, not refine them. And refinement is an active process, and you have to be prepared to do the work if you’re gonna grow." - Dr. John A. King

In this powerful and unflinching conversation, Ken Woodward is in conversation with Dr. John A. King, author, speaker, and PTSD recovery expert, whose life journey moves from profound trauma to purposeful advocacy. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse and trafficking, John transformed personal devastation into a mission to help others move from surviving to thriving through his foundation and mental wellness work.

King reflects on how questions have guided his healing, challenging the tendency to live “from the outside in” and instead pursuing happiness through intentional inner work, and living "inside out." He shares the discipline behind lasting change, emphasizing the incremental progress of 1% shifts that compound over time, and the daily choice to let hardship refine rather than define us.

Together, they explore resilience, identity, and the courage to rewrite one’s story. This episode is a candid reminder that recovery is not instantaneous but forged through persistence, self-honesty, and the relentless decision to keep moving forward.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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Resources Mentioned

Dr. John A. King's website

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

Los Alamos National Laboratories

Till It's Done (pending release) by John King

Stopping Traffic documentary

Stopping Traffic Trailer

Sisu (Finnish)

Taken film

John Wick

Braveheart

Gladiator

300 film

Rats and Rain (book) by John King

Sisu film

Warumungu People

The Phoenix Collective

The Phoenix Collective Program

Dr. John A. King on Instagram

Dr. John A. King on LinkedIn

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Ask Three Questions — Then Go Play | Addy Graff #69

Curated Questions — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

"Sometimes my parents say ask three questions and then you can play." - Addy Graff

In this delightful episode of Curated Questions, Ken Woodward sits down with eight-year-old explorer Addy Graff to discover how curiosity takes root early in life.

A seasoned traveler who has visited roughly 40 countries and every neighborhood in Washington, DC, Addy shares how asking questions helps her learn about people, cultures, and new experiences. From sampling adventurous foods like snails to practicing French in local shops, she demonstrates a fearless approach to discovery.

Addy reflects on lessons from school about thoughtful versus superficial questions and explains why the best ones invite stories rather than one-word answers. Encouraged by her parents to ask meaningful questions at the dinner table, she is already developing the habits of a lifelong learner.

Whether researching travel for the book she is writing or choosing the most interesting path while wandering a new city, Addy reminds us that curiosity is less about age and more about posture. One that keeps the world expansive, welcoming, and full of possibility. Follow along on her adventures through her Dad's Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/austinkgraff/

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction To Curated Questions

01:52 Meet Addy Graff: The Young Explorer

03:16 The Power of Asking Questions

05:13 Adventurous Travels and Tasting New Foods

08:44 Learning About Questions in School

11:37 Curiosity and Learning New Skills

13:52 Family Traditions and Encouraging Questions

16:17 Favorite Questions and Multilingual Curiosity

17:12 Discussing Language and Travel

17:51 Exploring Washington, DC

18:12 Neighborhoods and Landmarks

19:19 Wandering and Discovering

20:09 Culinary Adventures

23:11 Writing and Researching Travel

26:33 Travel Stories and Experiences

31:14 Reflections on Questions

Resources Mentioned

Austin K Graff: Dad who chronicles Addy's adventures

Austin K Graff on Instagram

Ms. Watts Addy's Teacher

Princess Jasmine outfit

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Hope Is A Muscle | Ken Woodward #68

Curated Questions — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:10:00 -0000

Episode Summary

"I don’t want hope as a primary strategy for living well." - Ken Woodward

In this solo episode of Curated Questions, Ken Woodward explores hope not as a feeling or slogan, but as a muscle, something built, weakened, and strengthened through use.

Prompted by Alex Honnold’s free-solo climb and his own season of uncertainty, Ken reflects on the collapse of trust in institutions and the fragility of inherited forms of hope. Drawing on psychological and neuroscientific research, he reframes hope as a cognitive skill set rooted in agency and pathways, the belief that we can act and imagine multiple routes forward, even without certainty.

Ken examines how rumination, paralysis, and outsourced responsibility erode hope, and how well-chosen questions can interrupt despair and reengage possibility. Moving from individual to collective hope, he invites listeners to consider where their own “hope muscles” have atrophied and what small, concrete actions might rebuild them.

This episode is not a lesson on hope, but a vulnerable, out-loud search for it, grounded in questions, courage, and shared responsibility.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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Episode Notes

00:00 A Taste Of What Is To Come

02:02 The Story of Alex Honnold

02:45 Personal Reflections on Hope

03:49 Current State of the World

05:34 The Concept of Hope

08:41 The Neuroscience of Hope

12:03 Practical Questions for Hope

15:55 Collective Hope and Action

19:09 Poem: Alex Jeffrey Pretti, Murdered by I.C.E, January 24th, 2026 by Amanda Gorman

20:58 Closing Remarks

Resources Mentioned

Alex Honnold

Tiapei 101 Tower

Amanda Gorman

Poem: Alex Jeffrey Pretti, Murdered by I.C.E, January 24th, 2026 by Amanda Gorman

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

When Cognitive Dissonance Breaks Open | Matthew Pridgen #67

Curated Questions — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

"You can only live with so much cognitive dissonance in your life." - Matthew Pridgen

Matthew Pridgen joins Ken Woodward for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about how questions can crack open denial and move us toward truth, repentance, and reconciliation.

Matthew shares his dramatic journey from addiction and a near-fatal suicide attempt to a decades-long pursuit of faith, justice, and historical honesty. His pivotal moment was when an eight-year-old girl asked, “Why did you take my church down?” after a tent revival in Charleston’s historically Black East Side, which became the question that launched his racial awakening.

Together, they explore how American “mythology” hides the realities of slavery, Jim Crow, and modern dog whistles, and how the Black church has sustained a prophetic witness against oppression.

The episode highlights the personal cost of cognitive dissonance, the freedom of living without lies, and a central challenge for today: are Christians willing to abandon Christian nationalism and follow Jesus’ actual teachings?

Check out Matthew's documentary The Sins of Our Fathers: Race, Religion, and the Rise of Trump on Amazon Prime, and his new Sins of Our Fathers podcast wherever you find your favorite podcasts. (https://www.amazon.com/Sins-our-Fathers-Religion-Trump/dp/B0G1XD7TQT)

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction to Curated Questions

02:05 Meet Matthew Pridgen: A Story of Redemption

03:38 Matthew's Tent Revival and Racial Awakening

05:02 Confronting Myths and Realities of American History

05:57 The Impact of Systemic Racism

07:19 The Power of Film in Social Change

08:41 Charleston's Unique Racial History

09:13 The Great Migration and Segregation

11:01 The Role of White Supremacy in American History

11:37 Theological Justifications for Racism

17:16 Matthew's Higher Call to Christians

21:37 Matthew's Personal Journey to Faith

25:06 Homeless Ministry and Community Engagement

27:12 Understanding Institutional Poverty

30:29 The Prophetic Witness of the Black Church

34:28 Cognitive Dissonance and Historical Awareness

37:20 The Need for National Reconciliation

42:28 The Uncomfortable Work of Facing Truth

48:56 The Role of Motivation in National Policy

50:23 Soft Power and Global Influence

50:55 The Motivation Behind Our Actions

52:25 Impact of USAID and Trump's Policies

53:13 The Harm of White Supremacy

53:46 Christianity and Political Disillusionment

54:58 The Hypocrisy in Evangelical Christianity

56:25 The Existential Crisis of Faith

57:07 False Prophets and Historical Atrocities

58:12 Embracing the Black Church Tradition

59:18 The Prophetic Witness of Black Women

01:02:12 The Legacy of Slavery and Black Women's Burden

01:04:21 The George Floyd Protests and Aftermath

01:05:50 The Need for National Conversation on Race

01:08:38 The Role of Individual Awakening

01:09:32 The Importance of Historical Awareness

01:12:56 Taking Action and Refusing to Be Complicit

01:16:37 The Influence of Barbara

01:22:34 The Freedom of Honesty and Repentance

01:28:25 Increased Sensitivity of Raised Defenses

01:31:28 The Challenge of National Pride

01:32:32 The Role of Humility in Overcoming Bias

01:33:41 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Resources Mentioned

Sins of Our Fathers

From Folly by Matthew Pridgen

America Street by Matthew Pridgen

South of Broad neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Great Party Switch

Southern Strategy

Dr. Bernard Powers

College of Charleston

Center for the Study of Slavery at the College of Charleston

Jemar Tisby

Duke University

Rev. Dr. Dallas Wilson, Jr.

Emancipation Proclamation

Reverent William Barber II

Poor People's Campaign

The Naked Truth Art Project by Ephraim Urevbu

The Indigenous People's History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris-Perry

Ann Caldwell Gospel singer

The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby (https://jemartisby.com/the-color-of-compromise/)

How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tisby

Resmaa Menakem

The New Deal

Joe Biden

Jeffrey Epstein Files

The Sins of Our Fathers on Amazon Prime

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

What Happens When A Question Is Asked? | Ken Woodward #66

Curated Questions — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

"Questions are not neutral; they're interventions." - Ken Woodward

What actually happens inside us when a question is asked?

In this solo episode of Curated Questions, Ken Woodward explores the neurological, emotional, and psychological impact of being asked a question.

Moving beyond techniques or tactics, Ken examines how questions hijack attention, trigger chemical responses in the brain, open unresolved mental loops, and sometimes activate fear or defensiveness.

Drawing from neuroscience and a powerful encounter during his Washington, D.C. walking project, he reflects on a question that has remained open for years: What real difference are you making?

This episode reveals why some questions feel like relief before they’re answered, why others linger long after they’re asked, and how certain questions don’t just reveal who we are, but actively shape who we become.

Questions, Ken argues, are not neutral requests for information. They are interventions. And understanding their power changes how we ask, how we answer, and how we live with them.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to check out the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Smell and Memory

01:09 Welcome to Curated Questions

02:21 Part One: The Hijack

04:07 Questions in Everyday Life

06:39 Part Two: The Chemical Cascade

11:13 Part Three: The Open Loop

14:57 Part Four: The Threat Response

17:15 Part Five: The Self In Question

18:52 Part Six: Putting It Together

20:43 Conclusion

Resources Mentioned

Brain Rules: We Are Not Wired For True Multitasking by John Medina

Neuromodulatory Systems

UC Davis

Bluma Zeigarnik

Washington Post Article about Ken's walk through Washington D.C. by Teresa Vargas

Everything Is Hard - Choose Your Hard | Mitchell Osmond #65

Curated Questions — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

"Literally everything in life is hard. The question is, what cost are you willing to pay? And you pay that willingly and happily because you value it." - Mitchell Osmond

In this episode of Curated Questions, Ken Woodward sits down with Mitchell Osmond, founder of Dad Nation Co., and host of the Dad Nation Podcast (Top 5% globally), to explore a hard but liberating truth: everything in life is difficult; the question is which difficulty we choose.

Mitchell shares the moment a single question at a funeral, “Are you living a life worthy of imitation?” forced him to confront his health, marriage, finances, and legacy. From that reckoning emerged a framework for growth rooted in discomfort, integrity, and honest self-inquiry.

Together, Ken and Mitchell examine why confidence is built through keeping promises, how avoiding hard questions quietly shapes our futures, and why legacy is forged at home as much as at work.

The conversation challenges the myth of ease, reframes struggle as a signal of alignment, and invites listeners to define success on their own terms. Ultimately, this episode is a call to stop outsourcing meaning, and to choose the hard that leads to a life worth living.

Mitchell is launching a new group coaching program, the High Performance Husband Accelerator! All the details can be found at https://www.dadnationco.com/accelerator

Mitchell is offering The Connection Code as a gift. 50 questions to spark the fun and get the fire back is available at https://www.dadnationco.com/code

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Resources Mentioned

Dad Nation Co website

The Dad Nation Podcast

Dad Nation Co Instagram

Mitchell Osmond on LinkedIn

The Gap in the Gain by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan

Ed Mylett

John Gray author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

The High Performance Husband

Raymond Coates

Spark Starter Kit

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

What Questions Are You Carrying Forward? Reflections on 2025 | Ken Woodward #64

Curated Questions — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

"What are the questions you will be carrying into the year, such that it will be a celebration of your becoming?" - Ken Woodward

This year-end Curated Questions episode is a reflective curation of the questions that shaped several conversations throughout 2025. Rather than offering a rapid recap of every episode, Ken highlights a handful of moments that reveal how intentional questioning can clarify purpose, interrupt unhelpful patterns, and guide meaningful becoming.

Across stories from entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and personal reflection, the episode explores questions that ask us to define the change we seek to make, consider who we are becoming, and choose where to place our attention. Along the way, listeners are reminded that good questions often emerge only after many imperfect ones, that perspective shapes dignity and connection, and that small mental reframes can act as powerful resets.

As the year closes, the episode becomes an invitation: to name the questions that mattered most in 2025, to carry one forward with intention into 2026, and to trust that a better world is built by those willing to keep questioning.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Ensure to subscribe to the Curated Questions Dispatch weekly newsletter on Substack.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Highlight

01:56 Introduction and Welcome

02:51 Overview of 2025 Episodes

04:09 Curated Questions Dispatch Newsletter

05:10 Highlighting Seth Godin's Insights

07:31 A Helpful Practice

08:46 Lisa Wimberger on Neurosculpting

09:25 Tim Molnar's Strategic Dating Guide

10:14 Kevin Kelly on Questioning and AI

11:30 Robert Sturman's Unique Perspective

12:23 Conclusion and Call to Action

Resources Mentioned

Flightcast

Steven Bartlett, host of Diary of a CEO

Curated Questions Dispatch on Substack

Seth Godin

Ask the Dust by John Fante

Date Smarter: A Strategic Guide for Navigating Modern Romance by Tim Molnar

The Inquisitive Almanack: 2026 | Ken Woodward #63

Curated Questions — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

"Direction often emerges not from knowing what you want, but from finally admitting what you don’t." - Ken Woodward

The Inquisitive Almanack: 2026 Edition closes the year with something Curated Questions has never quite done before—an affectionate, slightly irreverent, and deeply thoughtful almanack for the inner life.

Inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack, this episode blends dry wit, invented bureaucracy, and hard-won wisdom to offer forecasts not for the weather, but for the heart, mind, and questions we carry.

You’ll hear interior weather reports, proverbs for the asking class, arbitrary rules of inquiry, lunar phases of curiosity, and predictions for the questions most likely to surface in 2026—across leadership, relationships, parenting, teams, and personal life.

Released intentionally as the final episode of the year, this Almanack isn’t a recap or a resolution guide. It’s a pause. A breath. A lighter place to rest before the calendar turns and begins asking new things of us.

Come curious. Leave rested. And carry one good question forward.

Be sure to check out the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (LINK)

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Resources Mentioned

Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Flashlights, Lanterns, and the Way We Listen! | Haru Yamada #62

Curated Questions — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

"Not being a hundred percent sure all the time is a weird strength." - Haru Yamada

In this episode of Curated Questions, Ken Woodward is in conversation with Dr. Haru Yamada, a sociolinguist, intercultural communication scholar, and author of Kiku: The Japanese Art of Good Listening, to explore what it really means to listen. Haru traces her early understanding of questions back to age four, when she moved from Tokyo to New York and had to use questions as a tool for language, belonging, and survival.

Together, they unpack how culture shapes communication: English often rewards “flashlight” questioning, the precise, content-driven clarity, while Japanese culture tends to favor a “lantern” approach that illuminates context, relationship, and what isn’t said. Haru also shares the harrowing accident that reshaped her understanding of listening as a health practice, linking felt-heard experiences to relational, mental, and even physical well-being.

In a noisy, multitasking world, this conversation reframes listening as an active, life-giving skill, and a compass for navigating each other with empathy.

Be sure to check out the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction: Embracing Uncertainty

01:57 Introducing Dr. Haru Yamada

02:23 The Art of Listening: Kiku

03:12 A Life-Altering Accident

03:37 Welcoming Dr. Yamada

04:02 Early Experiences with Questions

04:57 Navigating Cultural Differences

07:28 The Journey of a Third Culture Kid

08:19 Academic Pursuits in Linguistics

10:32 The Strength in Uncertainty

16:04 Questioning Anti-Fragility As A Goal

23:02 Flashlight vs. Lantern: Different Approaches to Questions

26:57 Cultural Context in Business Meetings

28:16 Interpersonal Communication Challenges

32:12 The Importance of Listening

39:51 Personal Anecdotes and Reflections

44:11 The Healing Power of Being Heard

47:42 Reflecting on Past Medical Experiences

48:16 The Evolution of Listening Post-COVID

49:41 Remote Work and Multitasking

52:24 The Impact of Isolation on Communication

54:02 Curated Interactions in the Digital Age

55:34 The Shift in Media Consumption

57:48 The Importance of Visual and Auditory Listening

59:04 Personal Experiences with Hearing Loss

01:00:58 Advancements in Hearing Aid Technology

01:03:20 The Value of Ambiguous Questions

01:04:23 The Fear of Uncertainty in Listening

01:05:05 The Role of Multitasking in Communication

01:07:24 Learning from Students' Unique Needs

01:11:29 The Changing Nature of Academic Inquiry

01:19:23 Better Understanding The Lantern View

01:22:35 Cultural Differences in Language Learning

01:24:52 The Complexity of Bilingualism

01:26:48 The Challenges of Cross-Cultural Communication

01:31:07 Final Reflections and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

KIKU: The Japanese Art of Good Listening by Dr. Haru Yamada

Lynn Borton at Choose To Be Curious

Jeff Wetzler

Austin K Graff

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The Power of Introverts TED Talk by Susan Cain

Stanford Interpersonal Dynamics Class

Dr. Haru Yamada on LinkedIn

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

The Art of Noticing: How Asking Better Questions Changes What We See! | Rob Walker #61

Ken Woodward — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Summary

"If all you do is pay attention to what everyone else is paying attention to, then by definition you're not likely to innovate anything or create anything very original or different or surprising." - Rob Walker

Writer and cultural observer Rob Walker joins Ken to explore how questions and noticing reshape the way we move through the world. Rob traces his origin story back to discovering journalism at 18, a framework that gave a shy, introverted kid permission to ask questions on behalf of others.

They dig into his book and newsletter The Art of Noticing, talking about everyday noticing assignments, why “what am I missing?” is a powerful self-question, and how small acts of attention can mark time and make life more memorable.

Rob shares the story behind the Significant Objects project and why story, and not a price tag, creates real value in the objects we keep. From New Orleans as a “conversational city” to his teaching on point of view and manifestos, Rob reflects on questions as both agency and responsibility, in democracies, organizations, and personal life. Be sure to subscribe to Rob's Substack The Art of Noticing newsletter at https://robwalker.substack.com/

Be sure to check out the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction to Overlooked Ideas

01:56 Introducing Rob Walker

03:19 Rob Walker's Early Life and Career

04:28 Discovering Journalism and the Power of Questions

05:54 Embracing Curiosity and Askew Perspectives

08:57 The Influence of Laurie Anderson

13:30 Living in New Orleans

14:56 The Unique Culture of New Orleans

21:21 The Art of Noticing

22:32 Personal Experiences with Noticing

27:50 The Impact of Noticing on Daily Life

33:21 Noticing and Questions

40:56 The Power of Asking Questions

42:39 Questions and Agency

44:26 The Importance of Questions in Organizations

45:14 Inspirations and Heroes in Questioning

46:11 The Art of Asking Questions

46:37 Early Lessons in Journalism

47:42 Challenges of Interviewing Law Firms

48:12 Curiosity-Driven Interviews

48:35 The Sharpie Story

50:15 Preparing for Interviews

50:51 The Flow of Conversation

52:58 Finding Unique Angles in Business Stories

55:09 The Power of Longevity and Community

56:39 Mindfulness and Creativity

59:21 Significant Objects Project

01:01:04 The Value of Story in Objects

01:06:23 The Gift of a Questioning Mindset

01:11:59 Teaching and Point of View

01:12:51 The Role of Questions in Design

01:14:20 Student Challenges with Questions

01:18:57 Personal Reflections on Questions

01:19:25 End of Year Reflections

01:22:48 Final Takeaways and Reflections

Resources Mentioned

Consumed column in the New York Times Magazine

The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker (book)

Buying It by Rob Walker (book)

Significant Objects Project

Lynn Borton of Choose to Be Curious

Laurie Anderson United States Live (album) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Live)

Pacifica radio station (Houston)

Brooklyn Academy of Music / BAM

Journey (band)

Foreigner (band)

University of Texas

Hand Grenade (cocktail)

Anne Rice

Dave Isay Sound Portraits

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCA)

The Art of Noticing (newsletter)

The American Lawyer (publication)

Am Law 100

Martindale-Hubbell (legal directory)

Cracker Barrel Logo Controversy

Austin Kleon

Waking Up Meditation App

Lost Objects Book by Rob Walker

Ignorance by Stuart Firestein (book)

Inconspicuous Consumption newsletter by Paul Lucas

Jerry Colonna

David Whyte

School of Visual Arts in New York

Point of View Class at SVA

Products of Design

Rob Walker Substack

robwalker.net

Hypothetical Development Organization

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

From Goals to Puzzles: How Questions Outperform OKRs in Real Teams! | Radhika Dutt #60

Curated Questions — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

"We vote with our labor for the world we want to create. If you don't reflect on what you're doing, how do you know you're casting the right vote?" - Radhika Dutt

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward engages entrepreneur and author Radhika Dutt in a profound exploration of how questions can transform organizations from goal-driven to puzzle-solving entities. Radhika is the author of "Radical Product Thinking" and shares her journey from MIT to becoming a serial entrepreneur to developing the puzzle-based leadership OHLA framework (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings, Adaptations).

The conversation reveals how traditional goal-setting, rooted in 1940s assembly-line thinking, fails in today's complex environment, where creative problem-solving matters more than repetitive execution.

Radhika demonstrates through a live experiment how "puzzles" energize while "goals" burden, explaining that puzzles tap into internal motivation rather than external pressure. She emphasizes the critical importance of reflection, a practice she credits with enabling better decision-making both personally and professionally.

Drawing from her nine languages and global experience, including living in post-apartheid South Africa, Radhika offers insights on creating psychological safety for questions across cultures. The episode culminates with practical guidance on implementing puzzle-based thinking in organizations, showing how asking better questions leads to ownership, engagement, and transformative results.

Be sure to check out the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Resources Mentioned

Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter by Radhika Dutt

Lobby Seven

MIT

Avid Technology

Monetary Authority of Singapore

ChatGPT

Sam Altman

Gates Foundation

What has the Gates Foundation done for Global Health?

Only The Paranoid Survive

David Eagleman

Management by Objectives detailed in The Practice of Management by Peter Drucker

Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller

OHLA Framework Toolkit (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings, Adaptations)

Radhika Dutt on LinkedIn

RadicalProduct.com

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

The Insight Pause: When a Single Truth Rewrites Your Story! | Ken Woodward #59

Ken Woodward — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

"The Insight Pause is sitting in the rubble of your shattered worldview before clearing a single stone." - Ken Woodward

In this solo episode, Ken Woodward introduces The Insight Pause—a five-step framework for navigating the moments that crack open our worldview. Through his own story of confronting the hidden history behind the Indigenous names and artifacts that shaped his childhood landscape, Ken explores how insights arrive fully formed, unsettle our identities, and demand more than quick fixes or defensive reactions.

He walks listeners through the foundational skills that prepare us for these moments, the instant of recognition, the sacred pause that follows, and the slow work of integrating unsettling truths into a new, liberated worldview.

Whether you're rethinking long-held beliefs, noticing contradictions you can’t ignore, or sensing that something in your life no longer fits, this episode offers a practical and compassionate guide for holding discomfort without collapsing into denial or overreaction.

Discover how the Insight Pause can transform the questions you carry—and the person you’re becoming.

Be sure to check out the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:55 Personal Story: Early Realizations

02:36 The Cracks in the Story

02:51 Framework Introduction

03:37 Manifest Destiny and Indigenous Names

04:29 A Shattered Worldview

05:37 The Moment of Insight

05:56 Step One: Foundation

07:38 Step Two: Insight

08:47 Step Three: Insight Pause

10:23 Step Four: Integration

12:04 Step Five: Liberation

13:28 Insight Pause Deep Dive

16:14 Practical Applications

17:11 Creating Your Own Pause Practice

19:36 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Resources Mentioned

Yavapai County (https://www.yavapaiaz.gov/Home)

Hopi (https://www.hopi-nsn.gov/)

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (https://a.co/d/8xO1EDb)

Manifest Destiny (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_destiny)

Prescott, Arizona (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott,_Arizona)

Quinnipiac River (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinnipiac_River)

Niantic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niantic_people)

Montauk Point (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montauk_Point_Light)

Mashantucket Pequot (https://www.mptn-nsn.gov/)

Mohegan (https://www.mohegan.nsn.us/)

Bison herds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_bison)

American exceptionalism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism)

Founding Fathers of the United States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States)

Piscataway (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piscataway_people)

Narragansett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narragansett_people)

Producer Ben Ford (https://www.producerbenford.com/)

Beauty Pill (https://www.beautypill.com/)

Questions Asked

What question are you avoiding that would change everything?

What questions float at the edge of your consciousness?

What contradictions do you live with daily?

Even if 50% of the book was false, what do I do with the 50% that's true?

What do I do with the 50% that's true?

What truths are hiding in plain sight in your life?

Why do our best people keep leaving?

Why do I keep having the same fight?

Why does this success feel empty?

Why does this certainty require so much defending?

What am I working hard not to see?

Where do you feel the truth in your body?

What truths are hiding in plain sight in your life?

What feedback have you been deflecting?

What patterns have you been rationalizing?

What questions are you unwilling to ask?

What costs are you refusing to calculate? (

What names are you driving past?

What pottery shards are you collecting without asking whose hands shaped them?

What “half-truth” would change everything if you faced the true half?

What seedling of truth needs protection in your sacred uncertainty?

How Bridge-Building Questions Cross Divides! | Frank Sesno #58

Ken Woodward — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

"I'm gonna make an appointment with my curiosity." - Frank Sesno

Emmy award-winning journalist Frank Sesno shares how curiosity and strategic questioning shaped his four-decade career covering presidents and world leaders as CNN's Washington Bureau Chief and White House correspondent. From a fourth-grade question about astronauts to interviewing five U.S. presidents, Frank reveals the power of deliberate curiosity and active listening.

Frank breaks down his approach to preparing for high-stakes interviews, explaining how he blocks conversations into thematic acts while remaining flexible. He introduces the "echo question" technique, which is simply repeating a person's emotionally charged word back to them, that transforms surface answers into more profound truths. Frank emphasizes that the best questioners are the best listeners, focusing on what people say and what they don't say.

In "Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change," Frank discusses why bridge-building questions are critical in our polarized moment. He explores how AI makes human curiosity more valuable and shares his practice of "making an appointment with curiosity" to create time to deliberately formulate meaningful questions.

Be sure to check out the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:04 Meet Frank Sesno: A Legendary Journalist

03:05 Early Encounters with the Power of Questions

05:01 Curiosity Encouraged: School Days

05:54 The Art of Interviewing: Following Curiosity

08:37 Touchstone Moments in Journalism

09:35 Holding Power to Account

10:42 The Journey to Asking Tough Questions

12:48 Understanding Human Stories

18:25 Complexity of Human Experience

22:38 Listening: The Key to Great Questions

24:37 Echo Questions: A Powerful Technique

27:29 Preparing for Interviews: A Structured Approach

29:40 Structuring Interview Questions

30:27 The Importance of Flexibility in Interviews

31:16 The Power of Walking and Reflecting

32:01 Lessons from the Galapagos

34:13 Traveling with Curiosity

36:38 Fostering Curiosity in Students

40:46 Question Categories That Are Needed Today

47:04 The Role of AI in Questioning

50:39 The Human Touch in Questioning

52:21 Building Rapport with Interviewees

53:26 The Right Now Question

53:54 Finding Hope in Challenging Times

57:26 Connecting with Frank Sesno

58:51 Summary and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change by Frank Sesno

The Sesno Series

George Washington University

Senator Mark Warner

George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs

Storyfest Competition

Galapagos Islands

Lindblad Expeditions

1882 Morgan Silver Dollar

Nancy Pelosi

Frank Sesno on LinkedIn

Frank Sesno website

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Building Enduring Trust Through the Questions We Ask! | Jaimie Reese #57

Curated Questions — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

"When you have a trusting environment, it is exactly to hold each other accountable." - Jaimie Reese

What does it take to build trust in one of the world’s largest bureaucracies? Former U.S. Navy Senior Executive (SES) Jaimie Reese joins Ken Woodward to explore how genuine curiosity and courageous questioning can reshape systems, teams, and lives. From the aftermath of 9/11 to boardrooms and the Pentagon, Reese shares hard-won lessons on leadership, timing, and the art of listening when stakes are high.

Through stories that move from crisis to calm, she unpacks why trust isn’t granted by authority but earned through everyday inquiry—how slowing down, asking better questions, and truly hearing the answers can transform any organization. Jaimie traces the invisible threads between humility, communication, and change, revealing what happens when leaders replace certainty with curiosity.

This episode challenges every listener to reimagine leadership as an ongoing dialogue. Because, as Jaimie reminds us, “Leadership is a conversation you have with the future—one question at a time.”

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Building Trust and Accountability

01:07 Introduction to Curated Questions

01:51 Meet Jamie Reese

03:05 Jamie's Early Career and Learning the Power of Questions

05:36 The Importance of Prioritizing Questions

06:37 Building Relationships Through Questions

10:17 Navigating Requirements and Funding in the DOD

14:31 Engaging Stakeholders

22:16 The Role of Diverse Voices in Decision Making

28:29 Creating a Safe Space for Questions

36:44 The Importance of Time in Asking Questions

37:36 Reflections on Time Management

39:21 The Importance of Time Management

40:03 AI and the Art of Asking Questions

40:52 Balancing Speed and Quality

43:07 The Cost, Schedule, Performance Triangle

43:26 Applying Business Principles to Human Capital

45:38 Managing a Large Workforce

46:08 Strategic Workforce Development

52:38 Data-Driven Decision Making

55:10 The Role of Questions in Leadership

59:11 Navigating Organizational Change

01:02:42 Finding The Skeletons in The Closets

01:11:14 Building Trust and Accountability

01:12:50 The Value of Trust in the Workplace

01:14:09 Balancing Organizational Trust and Personal Sacrifice

01:15:04 The Decision to Leave the Federal Workforce

01:15:56 The Importance of Trust in Relationships

01:17:11 Facing Unhappiness and Making Changes

01:17:59 Reflecting on Career and Organizational Loyalty

01:19:49 The 9/11 Experience: A Day of Chaos and Leadership

01:21:13 Evacuation and Immediate Aftermath

01:23:07 Returning to Work Post-9/11

01:24:15 Leadership Lessons from Crisis

01:30:44 Navigating Healthcare for a Loved One

01:35:20 The Importance of Being Present in Healthcare

01:38:31 Final Thoughts and Ways to Connect

Resources Mentioned

The Pentagon

DASN

OSD

NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command)

Kevin Kelly – Wired magazine founder, author of The Inevitable

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

ReeseReimagined.com

Jaimie Reese on LinkedIn

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Safety, Burnout, and the High-Achievement Mask! | Garrett Wood #56

Curated Question — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:09:00 -0000

"The closer you become with these people while you're wearing that mask, the more distant you actually feel from the people around you." - Garrett Wood

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward engages in a deep conversation with Garrett Wood, a national board-certified health and wellness coach and certified clinical hypnotherapist. Garrett shares his insights on the hidden tolls of high achievement, addressing issues such as perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and burnout. He explores the power of questions and how they can transform our understanding of identity, worth, and achievement.

The discussion dives into the paradox of wearing masks to gain social acceptance, the first signs of burnout manifesting as cynicism, and the importance of creating authentic connections. Garrett also discusses practical strategies, such as non-sleep deep rest, to enhance performance and creativity, as well as the role of self-compassion in maintaining mental health.

This episode offers valuable perspectives on how to navigate and make sense of the world through the power of questioning.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 The Mask of Perfectionism

01:11 Welcome to Curated Questions

01:55 Meet Garrett Wood

02:57 Garrett's Early Experiences with Questions

05:14 The Power and Danger of Questions

06:02 Socratic Method and Questioning Authority

08:50 Curiosity and Childhood

12:32 The Role of Questions in Executive Coaching

15:13 Creating a Safe Space for Growth

20:22 Helping Clients Trust The Process

32:02 The Therapeutic Relationship

34:22 Understanding Pain and Healing

38:17 Non-Sleep Deep Rest

46:55 The Mundane Tasks and Mind Wandering

47:39 Non-Sleep Deep Rest Explained

48:29 The Power of Journaling

51:25 Practical Applications of Non-Sleep Deep Rest

54:20 Recognizing and Addressing Burnout

56:08 The Importance of Biofeedback

56:58 Understanding and Identifying Cynicism

01:01:43 The Concept of Masking

01:06:36 Living Authentically

01:11:30 The Journey of Self-Discovery

01:13:56 The Role of Questions in Personal Growth

01:20:48 Exploring Identity and Attachment

01:29:31 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Explain Pain Theory by David Butler and Lorimer Moseley

Five Levels of Attachment by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.

Garrett Wood on LinkedIn at Gnosis Therapy

Gnosis Therapy on Instagram

The Locked Door: How Avoided Questions Hold the Key to Transformation! | Ken Woodward #55

Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

00:00 The Possibility Of Your Avoided Question

01:21 Welcome to Curated Questions

01:59 Tangled Wings' Impact

04:31 The Question That Changes Questions

07:43 When Your Brain Says "Nope" (A Friendly Science Tour)

12:06 The Locked Door Model (Your Map to the Question)

15:11 A Personal Interlude (When I Found My Door)

16:10 From Boardroom to Living Room (How This Scales)

19:45 When Giants Finally Ask (The Storm Before the Breakthrough)

26:05 Integration Accelerators (Making It Stick)

27:07 Why This Matters Now (The Gentle Urgency)

28:22 Three Companion Questions (For Your Toolkit)

29:32 Your Next 48 Hours

32:01 Takeaways - Choose Your Own Adventure

Resources Mentioned

Questions Asked

What question are you avoiding that would change everything?

What topic made you slightly tense when I said “that decision you keep postponing”?

Where does it hurt?

What are you willing to give up that you love in order to change those conditions?

How has it benefited you to maintain these conditions you say you don’t want?

What am I avoiding right now, this week?

What topic, if I brought it up right now, would make you want to skip ahead in this podcast?

When will it be?

How much is enough?

What’s the cost of not asking?

Is it above your integrity grade?

What would our best competitor assume we’re too afraid to do?

If my kid was watching me handle this, what would I want them to learn?

Where are we optimizing for looking good instead of being good?

What would be different if…?

What does it look like to be a modern-day Freedom Rider?

How does my embrace of the American myth change upon the discovery of the broken treaties and massacres enacted on Indigenous people?

How do I hold dear to a faith when the church protected abusers and the powerful while endorsing slavery?

Why is there no national memorial celebrating the resilience of those enslaved and holding to account those who perpetrated the evil in our American history?

What if people don’t want to drive to a store?

What if they didn’t have to?

What if film is temporary?

What if photos are social?

What behavior does our incentive system actually reward?

Are we helping our customers succeed, or just protecting Windows?

What are we really afraid will happen if we plan for our own absence?

What am I pretending not to know about what my partner needs?

What question would my teenager ask if they felt truly safe?

What story do I tell about why I can’t change this?

What would I do if I knew I was already enough?

What if the future isn’t about PCs?

Are we a PC chip company, or are we a chip company that happens to make PC processors?

What question am I avoiding?

Are you? Or are you avoiding something more specific that might actually require change next Monday?

What elephant do you see in my room that I keep walking around?

Why do we keep this meeting?

Why does the team need to be aligned?

Why are we siloed?

How would we design collaboration into our resource model?

If we had zero history, zero sunk cost, and zero politics, what would we do?

What would someone who loves our mission but sees our flaws say we’re avoiding?

What question are we avoiding?

What would change if we asked it?

What is the smallest next step?

Should I change jobs?

Am I becoming who I want to be?

Who do I want to be when I’m no longer afraid?

Where have we stopped questioning?

What are we pretending not to know?

What would be different in 90 days if we faced this?

What question am I avoiding this week that would change my next 90 days?

What question am I avoiding today?

What question do you think I’m avoiding?

What question are we all thinking but no one’s saying?

What assumption haven’t we tested since we wrote this?

Where do our stated values and daily behaviors most diverge?

What are we not discussing that our successors will wish we had?

What would our most frustrated customer say we’re avoiding?

What would we try if we knew we could iterate our way to success?

The Permission Paradox & Why Questions Matter More Than Approval! | Jill Reilly #54

Jill Reilly, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"The most fundamental relationship in any change process is the one that you have with yourself. It's the questions that you ask yourself first and foremost that are the game changers." - Jill Reilly

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward is in conversation with global citizen and author Jill Reilly to explore the power of questioning in navigating life’s complexities.

Jill shares her journey from the Midwest to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and beyond, reflecting on her experiences as an aid worker and the lessons that shaped her understanding of change and personal agency.

They discuss the importance of self-permission, processing grief, and the need to adapt amidst societal and technological upheaval. With insights from her new book The Ten Permissions: Redefining the Rules of Adulting in the 21st Century, Jill emphasizes the transformative potential of asking the right questions to unlock personal growth and resilience.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Self-Questioning

00:49 Milestone Celebration: 100,000 Downloads

03:13 Introduction to Jill Reilly

05:23 Jill's Journey to South Africa

07:37 Choosing a Different Path

09:30 The Concept of Permission

13:39 Exploring New Paths

18:23 Jill's Work in Zimbabwe

21:44 Engaging with Questions

29:05 Political Uncertainty and Fear

31:18 Grieving the Old Stories

32:05 Reimagining Our Future

35:36 Challenging Fixed Mental Models

37:16 Questioning Traditions and Conventions

38:54 Intentional Conversations Around Adaptation

40:07 The End of Predictable Progress

41:40 Exploring Personal Undoing

43:18 The White Savior Complex

45:49 The Importance of Self-Permission

47:04 Engaging with Yourself for Change

49:11 Navigating AI and Rapid Changes

55:56 No Need To Blow Up Your Life

59:09 The Value of Leisure Time

01:02:31 Professional Adaptation and Evolution

01:08:19 Right Now Question

01:12:27 Final Reflections and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Shame: Confessions of an Aid Worker in Africa by Jill Reilly

Vain Aid TED Talk by Jill Reilly

The 10 Permissions: Redefining The Rules of Adulting in The 21st Century by Jill Reilly

Hughes Network Systems

Robert Mugabe

Ten Permissions website

Jill Reilly on LinkedIn

Jill Reilly email: jill@tenpermissions.com

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

How is it that you chose to pursue going to South Africa?

Were we allowed to question it?

Were we allowed to create alternatives to it?

What else did you do?

What are the things that you could do?

Do we even feel allowed to have those conversations?

Am I defaulting to just take the next safest step, or am I allowing him and myself to consider that?

Isn't it a good opportunity to begin to explore a variety of options?

Are we preparing them for this evolving reality, or are we continuing to default to what worked in our day or what we've always done?

How did things go when you got to South Africa?

Who am I? How am I introducing myself? What am I about?

What do you think were some of the modality, spirit, and heart posture as you use questions to engage this new world for you?

Can you contract aids from a public toilet seat?

What are good questions to use when wrestling with political uncertainty, upheaval, and the like?

Am I gonna be the one to try and fill the void that's being created right now with something new, something better, or is our only option to try and patch together what once was and keep hobbling along?

Why haven't we done any more amendments? Why haven't we changed things?

How far can we go? What are we allowed to do?

Do we need to make changes?

Why would we choose the old version?

Isn't there a better way? Isn't there more? Isn't there different? Isn't there now?

Do I feel allowed to do the thing that I think I should or they say I should? Or does fear, intervene in my own sense of permission? Are there external authorities whose power over me is so great that I'm not willing to take a risk? or am I the thing that's in the way of me actually taking a risk to do something different?

What are the questions that you're asking?

How are you poking into your own assumptions?

How are you testing those? What questions are you intentionally using? And what is your practice for going after that?

And are you gonna be ready for that or are you gonna be blindsided?

Am I allowed? What's desirable? What's allowable?

What do you wanna do with it? What does it look like for you? How is it a vehicle for you to live and experience in ways that maybe you haven't fully lent into yet?

What is your Right Now Question?

How can, and how will my book and these permissions support people to navigate this age of AI?

What's possible in this time? What's allowable? We allow ourselves to imagine showing up to this moment differently, and what might that look like?

What situation in your life right now feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable where you could experiment with leading with questions instead of assumptions?

How might genuine curiosity change those interactions?

Where in your life are you waiting for approval when what you actually need is to give yourself permission?

What would change if you separated these two concepts this week?

How might you make space to process loss and grief that continue to weigh you down?

Can you identify three "shoulds" that are currently driving your decisions?

What would happen if you spent 10 minutes each day this week asking yourself what YOU actually want, without editing or judging the answers?

Impactful Questions: Am I My Brother's Keeper? Ken Woodward | Ken Woodward #53

Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"Am I my brother's keeper? Is answered in the daily work of showing up, being challenged, getting it wrong, being corrected, and showing up again." - Ken Woodward

In this solo episode, Ken Woodward explores one of humanity's oldest and most challenging questions: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Born from Cain's evasion after murdering Abel, this question continues to shape how we answer fundamental issues about immigration, homelessness, healthcare, and who deserves our care.

Drawing from his 101-week walk through every street and alley in Washington, DC, Ken reflects on how he spent 50 years answering "no" to this question while convincing himself he was answering "yes." He shares powerful conversations with Raymond Coates about the Sugar House in Charleston, encounters with a woman who demanded accountability, and the devastating costs of both saying yes and saying no.

This episode challenges listeners to examine their own complicity, confront inherited assumptions, and honestly assess who they've decided doesn't count as "brother." Ken offers four concrete takeaways to help transform this ancient question from theological abstraction into daily practice.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 The Work of a Brother's Keeper

01:12 Welcome to Curated Questions

01:50 Am I My Brother's Keeper

02:36 The Origin: Cain's Evasion

04:44 The Question I Avoided Asking

09:09 The Question I Lived

11:07 Who Counts As Brother?

14:21 What This Question Reveals

15:45 The Cost of Yes!

19:51 The Cost of No

23:50 the Present Moment

27:22 The Military Exception

28:42 Repentance & Reparation

32:35 The Vulnerability of Yes

34:00 The Question For You

36:58 The Invitation

38:41 Takeaway

43:27 Final Closing

Resources Mentioned

Cain & Abel

Book of Genesis

James Baldwin

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

The parable of the Good Samaritan

Jesus

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman

Raymond Coates

Lorton Prison

Sugar House, Charleston, South Carolina

Training Day with Denzel Washington

Buddy Harrison

Malcolm X

Jerry Colonna

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Civil Liberties Act of 1988

Questions Asked

Am I my brother's keeper?

Where is your brother Abel?

Who have I decided doesn't count?

Whose suffering have I accepted as normal?

Whose voice have I decided doesn't matter quite as much as others?

How am I actually answering this question with my life, not with my words?

Why didn't Black service members get access to the GI Bill after returning from World War II?

How is the Republican adoption of the Southern Strategy to disenfranchise Black voters starting in the 1950s still functioning?

How was a Black family supposed to build generational wealth when redlining was legal?

What do I do with the half that's correct?

Who is my neighbor?

How are people with their backs against the wall supposed to relate to Christianity when Christians have their boot on their necks?

Will my brother keep me?

How have you been complicit in creating the conditions you say you don't want?

You think that didn't affect him?

You think he went home and was a good father? A good husband?

You think that violence stayed contained in the Sugar House?

You think you got something to say, don't you?

Are you a racist?

What do you think about slavery?

What do you think about policing?

What about reparations?

What about income inequality?

What is this project going to accomplish?

How is this going to make a difference in my life?

Are you really my brother's keeper, or are you just performing?

What does repentance look like?

What does turning away from these sins look like?

What does making amends look like?

Who have you decided doesn't count as your brother?

How has your boundary line shifted over time?

Who is included that wasn't before, and who has now shifted beyond that border?

What would it cost you to say yes to someone you've been saying no to?

What are the things your grandparents taught you—not explicitly, but through silence, through who was welcome in your home, through what neighborhood you lived in—that were actually answering "no" to this question?

Which of those things are you still practicing?

Am I ready to become my brother's keeper?

What would it cost me to actually be this person's keeper?

What have I taught you, through my actions and choices rather than my words, about who counts as your brother?

Is that the inheritance you want from me?

Why Asking the Right Questions Beats Having Quick Answers! | Amy Radin #52

Amy Radin, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"Asking the right questions the right way at the right time can often be more of a determinant of your success than being the person to raise their hand and come up with the answer." - Amy Radin

Amy Radin is a pioneer in corporate innovation and strategic questioning. Amy shares her journey from the influence of her father's corner drugstore to becoming one of the world's first Chief Innovation Officers at Citi, and her roles at American Express, E-Trade, and more.

The conversation delves into the importance of curiosity and questioning for personal growth, achieving corporate goals, the emotional and practical aspects of leading change, and the role of strategic questioning in innovation.

Amy also discusses her experiences as an early-stage investor and advisor, highlighting the significance of asking the right questions to assess founders' pitches and provide guidance as they build their companies.

Amy is available for live or virtual keynotes and workshops. She can be easily reached through LinkedIn direct messages to collaborate on how to bring her expertise to positively impact your organization.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Questions

01:28 Welcome to Curated Questions

02:06 Meet Amy Radin: A Pioneer in Innovation

04:01 Amy's Early Influences and Corporate Journey

05:13 Transition to Early Stage Investing

07:29 Understanding Founders Through Questions

10:51 The Importance of Diverse Expertise

17:16 Building a Personal Advisory Board

18:22 Handling Resistance with Questions

21:43 Effective Interview Questions

30:42 The Power of Asking Questions in Teams

36:10 Emotional Aspects of Change

40:49 Modern Change Management

43:46 Multi-Generational Workforce Challenges

46:14 Coalition Building for Change

48:07 Balancing Historical Knowledge and Innovation

50:37 Understanding Resistance and Fear

51:28 The Role of Experimentation

52:21 Digital Channels in Customer Acquisition

53:20 Designing Experiments with Skeptics

54:36 Financial Discipline and Digital Innovation

55:47 Customer Service and Digital Channels

56:12 Prioritizing Questions and Experiments

59:05 Becoming a Chief Innovation Officer

01:00:59 Challenging Assumptions with Questions

01:08:39 Qualitative Insight Gathering

01:12:28 The Emotional Side of Finances

01:16:33 Career Reflections and Resilience

01:21:23 Teaching and Strategic Advocacy

01:22:30 Celebrating Success and Staying Curious

01:23:46 Morning Walks and Creative Thinking

01:25:38 Final Thoughts and Places to Connect With Amy Radin

01:27:36 Closing Remarks and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

The Change Maker's Playbook by Amy Radin

Soundboard Venture Fund

A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger

Kotter's Eight Steps For Leading Change

Larry Keeley on LinkedIn

The Diary Of A CEO

John Dewey High School

Spike Lee

John Dewey

Amy Radin Website for the Uncommonly Pragmatic Newsletter

Amy Radin on LinkedIn

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What am I gonna do with myself now?

My first question was, well, what's that?

What were some of those right questions to be able to get a little bit deeper?

What questions am I gonna ask?

Can you tell me more about that? How did you figure that out? Or I'd love to understand that better. Can you dig in a little more?

Do we wanna go to the next step?

Have there been some particularly insightful questions that founders have asked of your team that have resonated with you?

What else do they bring to the table?

I would ask tell me a little bit about some of your recent experiences working with some of your other portfolio companies and how you've helped them out. Tell me about a situation when another portfolio founder when the market changed and they almost had the rug pulled out from under them, what was your reaction and were you able to step in and help them?

Tell me a story, not what would you do?

Has there been anything this new venture has taught you about questions that all of your other previous experience hadn't taught you?

What do you think might be a personal bootcamp that somebody could do that could help build that experience?

Ask, wow, I'd love to understand more where you're coming from. Could we walk through it? Because I wanna appreciate what you're trying to do and why you're uncomfortable with this. So, can you help me understand your perspective better?

How did I do? Did I do this three times?

What do you think makes for a good question?

What are the key requirements? What do I really need from this person? What would you do about X, Y, Z?

Help me understand what you did. What you felt and what you thought, and how did you actually handle that situation?

What metrics should we consider that would be appropriate to helping us understand the potential for this idea that would make us feel good about this tiny little investment you wanna make for prototype?

How can they bring the entire questioning game in the conversation up another level,

What do I really wanna understand better about this opportunity?

What do I really wanna understand better about working with these investors?

Do I wanna use the opportunity of this call/pitch session/diligence to ask them their advice about something? And can I be candid about?

Why can't you...? How might you...?

How do you think about that feeling or that component of us and bringing that into the workplace?

How is this change going to affect my career and what happens to me and my ability to pay my mortgage and send my child to college?

How do you feel?

Why does Sally seem so upset at the meetings?

As you are engaging with a company and helping them think through change, how do questions play a role in that process?

Who's gonna be there? What's their mindset about learning? Is it a curious organization? How would you describe the culture?

What role do questions play in change?

How do I really accomplish this change?

How does fostering curiosity and questions play a role in coalition building?

How do you get that tipping point?

What role can digital channels be effective to attract new customers?

What aspects do we think that innovating around the digital experience could favorably impact those aspects, those financial drivers of the business?

What role could digital channels play in customer service that could improve the customer relationship, lower costs, improve customer satisfaction, reduce attrition, and increase people's usage of the card?

What role does digital technology play in our business to benefit customers and shareholders?

How did you become a chief innovation officer?

What's that?

What do you think about specifically on questions in challenging assumptions?

Why are we doing it like this?

Where did that assumption come from?

When people go online, what happens to call volume?

What do we measure?

How do you see questions playing a role in sparking insights?

How are people managing their financial lives in the context of dealing with all the fallout from the financial crisis?

Are things filed, or is it a big mess in a paper stack? Why is it set up like that?

What are all the things that I could do?

You had mentioned early on about not being the cookie-cutter person, and wanting to be out there on the edges a little bit and mixing things up. How has that served you?

What can we do about this?

Would you be interested in teaching this Strategic Advocacy course? What the hell is that?

What do you need to do next?

What are your right now questions or question that you're working with?

I'm wondering why some of my best questions seem to come to me when I'm talking to my dog?

Are there any areas of questions that we didn't touch on that you were hoping to or excited to be able to touch on?

Where is this the best place for folks to track you down and see the things that you're working on and the things that you're excited about?

How would your career trajectory change if you spent the next year becoming known for asking brilliant questions rather than providing quick answers?

Can you identify three times over the coming week when you could practice asking "Help me understand your perspective" instead of explaining why someone is wrong?

Who are the people in your network who know what you don't know, and how could you formally invite skeptical perspectives into your most important decisions?

What would happen if you designated a regular meeting as question-only, where solutions are forbidden and curiosity is the only currency?

Mental Models, Cognitive Frameworks, and the Questions That Disrupt Them! | Dave McGurk #51

Dave McGurk, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"If we start talking about developing people, you have to ask those deep questions." - Dave McGurk

Dave is a transformational leader who bridges military precision with cutting-edge organizational development. As Founder and CEO of Veridian Perspective and Vice President at Apogee Global RMS, Dave brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience. His impressive 30-year military career includes Training Operations Director at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Army Enterprise liaison and senior executive advisor to U.S. Army European, African and Special Operations Command teams.

He has managed multi-billion-dollar budgets, led teams of hundreds, and influenced policy at the highest levels of government—including presidential-level decisions. His approach blends 30 years of military leadership, adult education, & neuroscience to create AI-powered diagnostics, hyper-personalized development, and dynamic simulations for resilient leaders in a volatile world.

Ken Woodward engages in a profound discussion with Dave McGurk, a transformational leader with a rich background in military leadership and organizational development. Dave shares his experiences, including a pivotal moment during his deployment in Iraq where he learned the cultural importance of time through the simple act of removing his watch. This revelation led him to question the embedded cognitive frameworks that shape our understanding of the world.

Through deeply reflective questions, Dave emphasizes the importance of framing problems accurately, understanding inherited mental models, and fostering genuine connections with others. He introduces his innovative seat swap counseling method, which promotes genuine feedback and psychological safety. This episode explores the transformative power of questions in personal growth and leadership development, encouraging listeners to challenge their assumptions and continually evolve.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

00:00 Reflecting on Leadership and Influence

01:16 Welcome to Curated Questions

02:02 Introducing Dave McGurk

04:03 Dave's Military Background and Leadership Experience

04:40 Cultural Challenges in Iraq

06:36 Learning from Iraqi Commanders

11:11 Building Trust and Relationships

13:44 The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

19:14 Teaching Critical Thinking in the Military

20:25 Challenging Assumptions and Mental Models

22:51 The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership

31:07 Navigating Authority Bias

34:21 Transition to Defense Contracting and Consulting

35:06 Understanding Mental Models and Cognitive Frameworks

35:54 The Power of Disruptive Questions

36:36 Teaching Creative Thinking and Problem Solving

39:56 Developing a Questioning Practice

44:49 Reflecting on Mental Models and Growth

45:39 Sports Analogies and Human Development

46:24 Personal Journey and Military Experience

48:22 The Impact of Suicide in the Military

49:22 Leadership and Connection with Soldiers

49:43 A Pivotal Moment: Jeremy LeClair's Story

50:03 Psychological Autopsy and Leadership Reflection

51:30 Commitment to Authentic Leadership

52:21 The Importance of Deep Questions

52:38 Understanding Mental Models

59:17 Challenges of Egocentric Thought

01:00:46 Feedback Mechanisms and Counseling

01:02:27 Connecting with People in Leadership

01:03:25 Deployment and Leadership Challenges

01:06:52 Empowering Teams and Challenging Authority Bias

01:08:09 Excitement for Future Leadership Development

01:14:35 Curated Questions and Continuous Improvement

01:21:01 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

General Dempsey

Army's Command General Staff College

CONOP

Mk Palmore

Apogee Global RMS

Thinking Fast and Slow by Kahneman

experiential learning model

Jeremy LeClair

the Leadership Student 2.0 podcast

Producer Ben Ford

Beauty Pill

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What else am I missing?

As an American who is over here supporting this country and this culture, what else do you not think I understand?

What do you think sets you apart in your approach versus those who came behind?

What are they really getting after?

What is it that you're really looking for?

What's the problem?

What am I missing? How do I see the problem? What are the facts that are relevant to the problem? And what's gonna allow me to open my aperture to see a different dimension of the problem?

How did that question rubric land with those that you were teaching or bringing up behind?

What is the question that you need to ask somebody to turn that into a fact?

What do you think?

What are the things that you're struggling with? What are the questions that you're trying to figure out? What haven't you had answered?

Am I trying to disrupt it in the right way?

Why did you jump on the one that was wrong?

What are the things that you think about that really drive the way you think?

How does your brain work?

How do we challenge that?

How do we challenge our own ability to understand how we're thinking and how we're gonna make a difference for us?

How can we develop a questioning practice or a way of living that ensures that we look beyond just the top drawer?

What are those echoes that kind of govern how we think?

What assumptions had to be made here that would turn into facts that are still applicable here?

How do we match that against what we think our inherited mental model is that is driving that for us?

Am I aware of those shortcuts that my brain is making?

Am I a reflection of the rewiring and the response?

How do I change the framework?

What is this doing to me?

Do you have any idea where that came from?

What is it that's going on?

What are those reflexive interpretations that are coming?

What are those echoes that are coming back and feeding us?

What was it about me that made you think that I was a good leader?

What invasive cognitive model has colonized your mind without your permission?

What is that question really trying to get at the heart of?

How does ego fit into all of this story?

Is this the right perspective? How do I shape that perspective?

How are you doing? How's your wife? You get a birthday next week, how does it feel to be getting old?

How did you take that staff and turn it into such a machine in such a short period of time?

How are our customers doing?

How would you feel if you would have one of your VPs sit down and give you counseling about what you're doing? Are you crazy? Why would I do that?

What elements are you most excited about in this next season that you're going into, with all that you've been creating?

Did we miss anything about questions?

What are the questions that you're working with right now for you personally?

How are you gonna experience catastrophic success?

What inherited beliefs about the right way to operate might you be clinging to without questioning their validity in different contexts?

How might your current problem be completely reframed if you ask, what am I missing instead of how do I solve this?

Which of your firmly held beliefs did you actually choose versus inherit from your environment? And are they still serving you?

What would change in your relationships if you literally or figuratively swap seats with those you lead or work alongside?

Why "Who Do I Say I Am?" Changes Everything! | Mike Hilson #50

Mike Hilson, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"Who am I? Was never gonna turn out well. Who do I say I am? Had a chance." - Mike Hilson

Host Ken Woodward welcomes Pastor Mike Hilson, senior pastor of New Life Church. They delve deep into how questions shape identity, leadership, and personal growth. Mike shares his journey, from wrestling with self-identity as a child to leading a thriving network of churches. Key discussions include the necessity of creative boredom, the evolution of the question 'Who do I say I am?', the importance of strategic delegation, and balancing doctrinal adherence with familial love.

Episode Notes

00:00 The Origin of a Pivotal Question

01:51 Introducing Mike Hilson

03:18 Mike's Early Life and the Power of Questions

04:16 Struggles in School and the Importance of 'Why'

05:18 College Years and Career Decisions

05:49 Journey into Ministry

06:14 Challenges and Realizations in Ministry

08:21 Creative Boredom and Leadership

11:00 Self-Awareness and Personal Growth

11:24 Marriage and Life Decisions

15:38 Parenting and Fatherhood

17:24 Wrestling with Identity and Faith

18:17 Leadership and Church Growth

22:40 The Impact of Lifelong Questions

30:36 What is a Good Dad?

36:16 Delegation and Empowerment

38:57 Handling Authority and Humility

40:38 Church Planting and Community Building

41:58 Maintaining Humility and Perspective

42:46 Mentorship and Church Growth

43:33 Rabbinical Mentoring Approach

44:04 Coffee with the Pastor Series

44:37 Rick Warren's Baseball Diamond Structure

45:39 Impact and Ministry Goals

48:52 End Game Thinking

50:36 Succession Planning

53:27 Communism and Totalitarianism

54:14 End Game Thinking in Personal Life

58:37 Questions and Anger in Society

01:00:48 Philosophical Base Choices

01:03:57 Biblical Truths and Cultural Application

01:06:04 Personal Identity and Roles

01:07:26 Future Plans and Family

01:13:13 Living a Full Life

01:15:51 Common Question: Proving God's Existence

01:16:10 Philosophical Game: What If I'm Wrong?

01:19:43 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

01:19:48 Summary Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

New Life Church in La Plata, Maryland

Producer Ben Ford

Southern Wesleyan University

Appalachian State University

John Maxwell

Rick Warren

Napkin Theology by Mike Hilson

Speak Life by Mike Hilson

A Significant Impact for Christ by Mike Hilson

Coffee with the Pastor by Mike Hilson

Theo Bolden

Outlive by Dr. Peter Attia

Brett Favre

Mike Hilson on LinkedIn

Beauty Pill

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Why am I here, why am I here without anybody? Why don't people like me?

Why is that bird doing that? Why does that rabbit hide there? why does that snake stand in that tree?

Why am I doing this [college class]? Why am I here? Why am I doing this?

What's this gonna be like?

Why am I a Wesleyan? Why do I believe this about the Bible versus that?

Could I be a Baptist? Could I be a Pentecostal?

Where is your creative boredom?

How have you used questions in that journey of self-awareness?

If I keep dating this girl, I'm going to marry her. And I had to stop and say to myself, am I okay with that?

Who do you say I am?

Who do I say she is?

Am I, Mike the guy who's gonna be a businessman who's gonna do this? Or am I, Mike the guy who's gonna be a pastor? Am I pastor Mike?

How do I figure it out?

How do I help other people deal with this?

Who do I say I am? Who does God say I am?

How could you leave?

What do I think a father ought to be?

What does a good father do right now?

How do you properly unpack things?

Which matters more?

What did Jesus die for?

If I fail to show grace here, how is it that I'm being like Jesus?

How does a dad show Grace?

What is a good dad, and how do I live that out?

Who do I say that I am?

What can I not, not do?

How quickly did you embrace load shedding and being okay with that as a leader?

How do I make sure we're taking care of them properly?

What is the logical outcome of what I am currently doing?

What is end game thinking?

What do I leave behind?

How do you think through what that building's gonna be worth in 30 years?

What's the natural outcome if I continue to treat my wife the way I'm treating her right now?

What happens if you silence half or a third of your nation and tell them they can't talk anymore?

How generous am I being to other people?

What does that mean for my life? What does that mean for how I live?

What measure did I just use?

What measure do I want God to use back to me?

What does it mean to love my child, even if my child's gonna reject my faith?

How do I balance these?

How do you now do your job? What can I not not do to fit inside of that?

Why would I believe in a God that you can't prove exists?

What have I missed in my life by following a biblical worldview and the biblical tenets of how I should live?

What if I'm wrong?

What if I'm right? What have you missed?

The Key to Helping Others Find Their Own Questions! | Naomi Campbell #49

Naomi Campbell, Right Question Institute, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:36:50 -0000

"Questions are an extremely sophisticated thinking skill that everyone can use and practice all the time." - Naomi Campbell

In this episode, host Ken Woodward is in conversation with Naomi Campbell, Director of the Right Question Institute (RQI) Legal Empowerment Program. They delve into the transformative power of teaching people to ask questions, highlighting its impact across various fields, including education, legal practice, and healthcare.

Naomi shares her journey from an inquisitive childhood encouraged by her family and school, through law school at Harvard, to her work in Mexico City advocating for migrant workers. The episode emphasizes the importance of questioning as a sophisticated skill that fosters personal agency and enhances democratic participation. Naomi also discusses RQI's unique methods for teaching this skill and how they support change agents in different communities.

The conversation provides insightful examples of how empowering people to formulate their own questions can lead to meaningful social change and better navigating decision-making systems.

Episode Notes

00:00 Powerful Questions As A Skill

01:50 Meet Naomi Campbell

03:33 The Importance of Asking Questions

07:30 The Role of Agency in Advocacy

10:59 Naomi's Law School Experience

11:38 The Socratic Method in Legal Education

15:49 Empathy in Legal Practice

18:53 Naomi's Work in Mexico City

20:04 Returning to the Right Question Institute

25:39 The Right Question Institute's Mission

27:22 Empowering Through Questions

30:55 Examples of Impactful Questioning

41:00 The Role of Questions in Healthcare

42:05 Challenges and Mistakes in Advocacy

42:42 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

43:38 Embracing Change and Learning from the Field

44:17 Using the Method in Shifting Landscapes

44:51 The Virtuous Cycle of Curated Questions

45:56 Job Interview Questions: Examples and Inspiration

47:26 Iterating on Questions: A Skill for All Ages

49:23 Teaching Question Formulation in Classrooms

51:42 The Role of Questions in Education

53:44 Exciting Developments at RQI

56:49 Connecting Questions to Democracy

59:41 Micro Democracy: Participating in Everyday Decisions

01:00:22 Combating Misinformation Through Critical Thinking

01:01:11 Helping Others to Ask Their Own Questions

01:03:41 Challenges in Healthcare Adoption of Questions

01:05:53 The Importance of Patient Empowerment

01:08:22 Frameworks for Effective Questioning

01:09:58 The Power of Questions in Decision Making

01:13:10 Questions As A Tool To Amplify Unheard Voices

01:19:15 Takeaways and Reflections

Resources Mentioned

The Right Question Institute (RQI)

RQI's Legal Empowerment Program

Lynn Borton at Choose To Be Curious

Socratic Method

Harvard Negotiation Workshop & the Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs

Centro de los Derechos del Migrante

Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions

SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

SNAP Employment and Training Programs

Kevin Kelly

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

How do you help other people ask their own questions?

You said that, questions were encouraged what did that look like growing up for you?

What were the things that you think your parents did right in helping you be inquisitive about the world or encourage that?

What was it about the school environment that encouraged questions and is what you encountered?

Who was holding that power? who is holding the power of questions?

How can you use questions?

How do questions help people both feel and express empathy?

What kinds of questions are you asking when you are really listening to somebody?

How are questions important?

Is choosing to spend your life pursuing the questions that intrigue you common with your peers?

What is the school going to do to prevent this?

What are we going to do to prevent this from happening again in the future?

What am I really concerned about?

How could it be a better question?

How could it be a worse question?

What happens when you share the power of questions and how can that improve thinking, how can it improve advocacy? How can it improve democracy?

how are you seeing the importance of questions in relation to democracy?

Do you have any particular initiatives working on combating misinformation and disinformation?

What brings you here today?

Not only what questions do you have, but how can I help you ask questions?

How do I help the people that I'm trying to serve ask questions?

Who gets to ask the questions?

Who in fact asks the questions?

Who doesn't ask the questions?

What questions didn't I ask?

What questions should I have asked?

Have there been any areas where you thought there was gonna be more of a response or a richer return on investment?

What's the difference between a closed and an open-ended question?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both types of questions and how can you use them strategically?

how do you order your questions?

How do you use closed and open-ended questions?

How do you ask questions about decisions?

What questions do you have?

Which questions of mine have to do with the reason behind the decision, and the why behind the decision?

What questions have to do with the process for making the decision?

How was the decision made?

Who was involved?

What information was used?

When was it made?

What meeting was held?

What role do I have?

What is the role of the people who are affected by the decision?

How did you come to this decision?

How might you come to this decision?

What can I do in this situation?

What can I do to better follow the doctor's instructions?

What can I do if my child is struggling in school?

Is this the transparency that's supposed to be happening?

Are people having a voice that's supposed to be happening?

Do they have a case here?

If we say we care about democracy and actually do, how do we uphold these principles?

What is your right now question?

How do we find the change agents in all of these fields? How do we find the people who care about agency, how do we support them, and how do we connect them to each other?

Instead of providing answers or asking all the questions yourself, how could you teach others to formulate their own powerful questions?

When facing a decision that affects you, what questions are you not asking about the process and your potential role in it?

What would change if you permitted yourself to ask terrible questions before expecting to get to the good ones?

Who in your sphere doesn't feel empowered to ask questions, and how could you help change that?

The Curated Questions Origin Story: When It All Began! | Ken Woodward #48

Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this solo episode, host Ken Woodward delves into the origin and development of the 'Curated Questions' project, which began in 2018. Ken shares his personal journey of curiosity, inspiration from Tim Ferriss' podcast, and the influences that led to the creation of his blog and subsequent podcast.

Highlighting notable milestones and influential interviews, Ken discusses the structure and purpose of the Curated Questions website and its various elements, including famous questions and lists. He also reflects on the profound impact of asking meaningful questions, illustrated with personal anecdotes.

The episode encourages listeners to embrace curiosity and engage with the world through the power of well-chosen questions.

Episode Notes

00:00 Welcome to Curated Questions

00:48 Origin Story of Curated Questions

01:42 Early Influences and Personal Growth

02:26 Tim Ferris and the Power of Questions

03:44 Inquiry of the Day Blog

04:54 Year of Connection Project

05:53 Podcast Launch and Challenges

07:31 Impact of COVID-19 and Social Justice Walk

08:26 Relaunching the Podcast

09:52 Website Structure and Features

10:58 Famous Questions and Quotes

16:05 Interview and Reflection Questions

21:56 The Power of Questions and Conclusion

Resources Mentioned

Amway

Tim Ferriss

Seth Godin

IOTD365.com Ken's first blog

#yearofconnection

Podcast Fellowship

Rob Lawless of Robs10kfriends

Pat Ennis

Teresa Vargas

Washington Post Article about walk through Washington D.C.

Lynn Borton of Choose to Be Curious

Famous Questions

Maya Angelou

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Questions from Tribe of Mentors

Questions from Benjamin Franklin's Junto

Kevin Kelly

Questions from The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future by Kevin Kelly

Questions by Ryan Holiday

Painted Porch Bookstore

General Stanley McChrystal

Questions Asked

We have to confront ourselves. Do we like what we see in the mirror? – Maya Angelou

Is man ever a creature to be trusted with wholly irresponsible power? – Harriet Beecher Stowe

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one? – Abraham Lincoln

What do you want to accomplish with this hire that is different from the incumbent?

How much freedom do I have to make this position my own? What is a recent example of how this freedom has been demonstrated in this department?

What are the assumptions that have to prove true in order for me to be able to succeed in this assignment? – Clayton Christensen

What mentor recommendation have you adopted, and what have you rejected?

What would someone who doesn't like you say about you? – General Stanley McChrystal

Why is the vision of the company important to you? – Brad Jefferson

How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself? – Epictetus

What tone does your presence establish in the organization, and how does it change while you’re away?

What was the best mistake you’ve ever made, and how did it lead to something better? – Tim Ferriss

How much more of your privilege do you want tied to the oppression of others before you decide to let it all go for all of our liberation? – Ijeoma Oluo

When did you learn the world is unjust/unfair? – Philippa Hughes

What was the moment you realized, because of your skin color, the rules are somehow different for you? – Joel Freeman

How have you been complicit in creating the conditions you say you don’t want? – Jerry Colonna

How Questions Create Instant Trust in Any Conversation! | Maury Rogow #47

Maury Rogow, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"You were the most interested person in the room, and you're gonna get love." - Maury Rogow

Maury Rogow is all about storytelling. He is the CEO of the Rip Media Group and creator of the Story2Sales methodology that's generated over $150 million in trackable revenue for clients. I appreciate the tag line, "Your brand will thrive or die, based on the story you tell."

Maury's unique journey spans high-tech success and Hollywood storytelling. He built his business career at companies like Avaya, Lucent Technologies, and GeoTel—a startup that sold to Cisco Systems for over $1 billion. He then pivoted to Hollywood, serving as executive producer for feature films like "Bedrooms" and "Enter The Dangerous Mind," and working with industry legends including the creator of the Batman franchise.

Today, Maury combines business acumen with cinematic storytelling to help Fortune 1000 companies like Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, and Ben & Jerry's create compelling brand narratives. His approach recognizes that in our noise-filled marketplace, every company must master storytelling to survive and thrive.

Maury has proven that great stories don't just entertain—they sell. He's written several books, with his latest on the horizon being "Your Story Can Be Your Superpower - Selling in an AI world." He has been featured in Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur magazines.

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward engages with Maury Rogow, CEO of RipMedia Group, to explore the transformative power of questions in both personal and professional contexts. Maury shares pivotal moments in his career, from telecommunications to Hollywood, emphasizing how a single question can change a transactional relationship into a meaningful connection.

The discussion covers the importance of storytelling, the benefits of embracing unique traits, the impact of framing on emotional responses, and effective strategies for leveraging questions in sales and daily life. Maury also offers practical advice on finding balance in business, the role of AI in asking the right questions, and shares key resources and techniques for developing better questioning skills. Listeners are encouraged to take on an audience challenge to spend a day asking only questions and to reflect on the impact it has on their interactions.

Episode Notes

00:00 The Power of Asking Questions

02:44 Guest Introduction: Maury Rogow

04:17 Maury's Early Career and Sales Journey

05:56 The Impact of a Key Question

08:16 Transition to Hollywood

09:56 Learning from Sales Training

11:49 Developing the Story to Sales Methodology

14:35 The Stigma of Sales

16:02 Finding a Career Path

20:14 Influence of Early Mentors

23:00 Informational Interviews and Networking

24:54 The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

28:57 How Maury Used Mr. Greenberg's Questions In His Career

33:59 Story Over Features

42:10 Fostering Curiosity

43:07 Reframing Questions for Positivity

45:29 Crisis and Opportunity

46:19 Curiosity in Business

47:02 Reflecting on Success and Future Goals

47:50 Transformational Beginnings

49:04 Curiosity and Inventions

50:40 The Audacity to Dream

51:38 Connecting the Dots

52:07 Unique and Weird

52:58 Encouraging Creativity

53:45 Software Innovations

54:38 Early Entrepreneurial Ventures

55:48 The Importance of Questions

59:15 AI and the Future

01:01:36 The Skill of Asking Questions

01:04:56 Mirroring and Negotiation

01:08:05 Personal Growth Through Questions

01:10:23 Therapeutic Journaling

01:13:36 Community and Connection

01:15:31 Maury's Right Now Question

01:18:01 Ken's Right Now Question

01:20:21 The Entrepreneur's Journey

01:25:07 Final Reflections and Encouragement

01:30:36 Maury's Recommended Questions

01:36:42 Where To Find Maury

01:38:07 Takeaways and Conclusion

Resources Mentioned

Story 2 Sales

Neil Rackham

SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham

Richard Grinberg

Your Story Can Be Your Superpower by Maury Rogow

Maury Rogow on LinkedIn

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Why is this important to you?

Was that a good answer?

Do you golf?

And that means what?

That does what, and how does that work for you?

How are things now?

How do you do it today?

What's the problem that you're seeing?

What's the problem we're trying to solve?

What does that mean?

What happens if there's that problem?

What's the need?

What's the payoff?

Where did you get that understanding?

How did you tie sales to I won't have to go hungry?

What job looks like this?

Can I tell the decent story?

Can I ask the right questions to get in the door if I don't know the answer?

Should I pursue this as a career?

Should I pursue it as even just a job?

How did they get into what they did?

What skills do you need?

What experience did you have?

What did your first 90 days look like?

What's your day-to-day?

What's the person you work with like?

Would you mind introducing me to someone else who does what you do, or something similar? I'd like to learn more.

That list of questions, were there one or two that you've found beneficial in various capacities as you've gone forward?

What do you like the most about this campaign?

What's this like? What's your favorite? What do you dislike? What's not going well?

How does that affect you?

What was the result of that?

What are you telling yourself about that?

Is this where you pivot and just come back to start asking questions in another direction?

Is that a good book?

What kind of questions are helpful for getting to a story?

Can you tell me about a time that this happened?

What keeps you up at night? What are you struggling with?

Have you tried to solve that? Have you tried to solve the bad microphone situation? How did that work for you? Did that work for you? Do you have any examples of it not working?

How do you foster curiosity?

Why am I asking myself the negative version of that?

Why didn't I win that project? Why don't I live in a bigger house? How can I be grateful for this amazing place to live in? How can I be grateful for x?

Can you run this?

Why is that amazing?

How is that interesting?

What's the opportunity?

Has there been any particular insights that have come out of that process that has just radically changed the business for you?

What can I do next?

How else can I frame this?

How do I do that at this point of a sales cycle? What story is needed here?

Who else could do this?

What's cool about this? What's great about that? How's that unique? How can I help? How can I use that to help you?

Do people really know how incredibly important this is?

What's the question I can ask my GPT Pro to get the best prompt? What's the question I can ask to get the best answer? What's the question I can ask to get the best result?

What kind of questions did you encounter today?

What [question] might you have been able to use when you're at school?

Who am I gonna talk to about this?

Am I gonna do an exit at my company?

Where should I focus my time?

How much time do I put on that?

How much focus do I put over here?

What does your body do when you are anxious?

Can you say I'm excited?

What would make this meeting the most effective use of your time?

What are you struggling with right now?

How are you currently solving that?

What happens if you don't solve?

Has there been a, persistent present problem, something that's recurring, that perhaps we could fix?

How important is this? Is this incredibly important?

What's your dream solution? What does success look like for you?

If I come back in a year and I chat with you, what does your life look like at that point? Or what does your business look like at that point? What's it look like in a year? Let's take that vision and what does that look like?

Where is the best place for folks to track you down and see the things that you're excited about?

What would change in your professional relationships if you consistently asked people why your work together truly matters to them?

What story could you tell about your work that would help people feel the transformation rather than just understand the transaction?

What unique combination of interests, experiences, or obsessions are you hiding that might actually be your greatest professional asset?

What situation that currently makes you anxious might actually be your body's way of telling you you're excited about the possibility?

Why the Right Question Feels Like an Invitation | Dr. Matt Lampe #46

Dr. Matt Lampe, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:14:08 -0000

"The meaning of your communication is the result you are getting." - Dr. Matt Lampe

With a Doctorate from Alliant International University's California School of Professional Psychology, Matt has dedicated his career to transforming how organizations approach change, leadership development, and workplace agility.

He is currently leading enterprise-wide organizational change efforts as part of Business Oregon's flagship modernization initiative, which focuses on aligning internal systems, strengthening operational infrastructure, and enhancing statewide service delivery to help businesses throughout Oregon.

Sponsored by the non-profit Science For Work, Matt hosts the "Science for Work Podcast," where he explores the science behind creating healthier, more effective work environments through conversations that translate heady scientific research findings into practical action steps.

His consulting practice helps organizations navigate complex transformations through change management, leadership development, strategic planning, and project management—combining data-driven insights with compelling storytelling.

Matt's philosophy centers on creating cultures where people can thrive. He's learned that data alone isn't enough to drive change; it's the combination of solid research with relatable storytelling that truly motivates action and engagement. And if that wasn't enough, he is also a contributing writer to PositivePsychology.com.

In this podcast episode, host Ken Woodward delves into the significance of questions in both professional and personal spheres with Dr. Matthew R. Lampe, an expert in organizational change and leadership development. Highlighting the vital role questions play in verifying communication, navigating change, and building trust, Matt shares insights from his experience in managing organizational transformations and personal growth.

The conversation also touches on the deep tradition of yearly trips to Yosemite, offering a unique perspective on how consistent reflection against an unchanging backdrop can facilitate personal growth and evolution. Additional elements include updates about the curated questions community, announcements of new features, and an introduction to the Science for Work Podcast.

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction to Change Management

00:33 Engaging with the Audience

00:57 Podcast Updates and Announcements

03:16 Welcome to Curated Questions

04:00 Introducing Dr. Matthew R. Lampe

05:35 Matt's Early Curiosity and Career Beginnings

06:36 The Power of Questions in Sales

11:50 Transition to Organizational Psychology

14:10 The Role of Questions in Education

16:28 Maintaining Curiosity in Organizations

17:57 Fun and Empathy Through Questions

19:36 Questions in Change Management

24:21 Voluntary vs. Voluntold Change

29:23 Evolving Workplace Practices

30:59 Balancing Shareholder and Employee Needs

36:33 The Importance of Continuous Feedback

44:47 The Power of Asking the Right Questions

45:21 Potential Pitfalls of Questions

48:38 Understanding Workplace Survey Hesitancy

49:14 The Impact of Psychological Safety on Survey Responses

49:57 Challenges in Employee Engagement Surveys

52:28 Building Trust in Organizations

53:17 The Importance of Context in Asking Questions

54:55 Introducing the Science for Work Podcast

55:45 The Mission of Science for Work

56:52 The Role of Evidence-Based Research

57:45 Global Perspectives in Research

59:54 The Value of International Collaboration

01:03:30 Exploring the Concept of Place

01:05:51 Matt's Yosemite Tradition

01:06:49 The Significance of Nature in Personal Growth

01:08:45 Reflecting on Annual Traditions

01:09:55 The Power of Disconnecting from Technology

01:14:21 Memories and Family Legacy

01:20:57 The Awe of Nature

01:22:49 Final Reflections and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Business Oregon

Marco Polo game

Science for Work

Science for Work Podcast with Matt Lampe

David Whyte

Yosemite

John Muir - The mountains are calling and I must go.

Matt Lampe at LinkedIn

Matt on Instagram

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Why not?

Do you like blue? Do you wear a lot of blue? Do you only wear blue?

When you were doing sales, did you stumble into the gut feeling? Was it more of an empathy thing in making a little bit of that switch to inquiring instead of just assuming?

What about you?

What about the customer, the client, the person who is buying?

How can we develop and evolve the way that organizations operate so that there is more of that curiosity?

What motivates that?

What does living a good life look like?

What does that even mean when somebody says living a good life?

What are you gonna do when you graduate?

What's next?

Have you heard of organizational psychology?

Was there any particular role that questions played in the schooling portion?

Tell me more.

Is this working?

How is this landing?

How is it being received?

How am I communicating this?

What is the perception of this?

Are we still on track?

How is this resonating with them?

How do you keep curiosity fresh as you go into these organizations?

Why am I here?

What are we wanting to do?

How has that served you?

What does support look like for you?

How are questions assisting you?

What kind of heavy lift are questions doing to help you to help an organization accept the change they're undergoing?

How is this landing with you?

What are things that might change in your day-to-day behavior as we move through this, and how do we make sure that when we introduce this new piece or these new pieces, or these new processes, whatever it might be, are you prepared for it?

Did we provide the right resources, understanding, knowledge, education, information, and training so that you understand how this works?

Where are you in this process?

How are we meeting you, where you are?

How can we continue to build on that momentum so that he continues to champion and advocate for this new initiative?

You have a bunch of tools; which tool makes the most sense?

How are you doing through this?

How is your team doing through this?

What questions are still uncertain?

What are some gaps where we can provide some clarity?

What do resources look like to you?

What do people need in that moment?

How are the people actually doing?

How do we run the business to make sure that we keep the shareholders happy?

How do we make sure that this quarterly report bumps the share prices?

What could it look like if we did things a little bit differently?

What does the research say?

What is the metrics fatal flaw?

Do we fully understand what all the implications are?

What kind of behavior is that driving?

Where are we now blind as a result?

When you stop asking questions, is this working?

Is this still getting the result that we want?

Is this still working as intended?

What else is now a part of the equation that we didn't realize or that we didn't know, or that wasn't even around when we first started using this?

Does this still work?

Does this actually make sense for our organization?

Have you stumbled across any questions that are ineffective

Am I asking the question with genuine curiosity, or am I approaching it with an agenda where I want to get a specific answer from you to help my case?

What is your process for figuring that out?

What is your experience here?

What was the end result that we were trying to understand, and is there a different way we can ask that?

Was there a specific situation or a specific event that disrupted or broke any sense of trust?

What does it look like without having that trust?

If we had more trust, what would it look like to you?

Do others feel the same way?

Who else can I talk to?

Who else would I want to talk to?

Who do you go to when you need to talk to somebody?

Why are you asking about my blood pressure?

When you did this research, what did you find; what does that look like in practice?

If somebody was listening and they said, this all sounds great, but how can I start doing this today, what would you suggest?

When you found this, what was the most surprising insight? Where do you think that this will continue to go?

What's working there?

How are you doing that?

How is that impacting?

Does that make sense?

What influences this?

What are the behaviors that you're doing?

What does the data say on this?

What components are similar between the two that could actually translate over with an impact?

Whose stories have we not yet heard that can reciprocate back some of that benefit?

Can you tell me about your Yosemite story and, what that tradition has looked like?

Where are we riding our bikes today? What hike are we doing? Can we go to the river here? Can we jump in there? Can we go see this? Can we go do that?

When I come back, do I want all those things piled up and waiting, or do I wanna pull some of those things off the plate?

Do I wanna be able to come back to a different experience?

When I come back down the mountain, what do I want to carry back with me into the rest of my life, into everyday life?

What do I want that to look like?

Do I still want to have the hustle and the grind and the busyness that I have right now? Or do I want to reevaluate and sort of bring to a close some of those things that I've really enjoyed?

How long have we been coming up here?

What is your right now question?

What does balance look like?

Do you wanna do this? Do you want to go there? Do you wanna be a part of this? Can you help with that?

What does that balance look like in order for me to make space for those opportunities?

What does it look like to make work better?

Is there anything else we need to address, or anything we may have missed?

What is the motivation for you, or what has prompted you to host and have curated questions?

In your next meaningful conversation, what would change if you replaced your prepared questions with curiosity and simply saying "tell me more"?

What important message have you assumed was understood without ever verifying how it actually landed?

What system in your life, personal or professional, are you following without questioning whether it still serves its intended purpose?

What would become possible if you regularly created spaces completely disconnected from your daily demands to reflect on what truly deserves your energy?

The Power of Asking "What Do I Do Now?" Instead of "Why Me?" | Dr. Latorial Faison #45

Ken Woodward, Curated Questions, Dr. Latorial Faison — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:00:11 -0000

"When I even think that I wanna give up, I can't because people like this put their life on the line so that I could have better opportunities." - Dr. Latorial Faison

Dr. Latorial Faison is an HBCU and Virginia State University Professor, Poet, Author, Independent Scholar & Senior Military Spouse. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in English and a Doctoral degree in Education. Faison is Chair of the Department of Languages & Literature and Assistant Professor of English at Virginia State University and has authored over sixteen books.

Faison's research study, The Missed Education of the Negro: An Examination of the Black Segregated Experience in Southampton County, Virginia 1950-1970, focused on Riverview High School, a segregated Black High School that existed in Courtland, Virginia, and explores the nuances of Black segregated education during the Jim Crow Era.

Faison's latest work, Nursery Rhymes in Black was released in June of 2025 and blends tradition, memory, and resistance through a reimagination of familiar childhood rhymes through the lens of Black history and lived experience. This volume just received a Pulitzer Prize nomination.

Not one to rest on her laurels, her next work Blood at the Root, will be released in the coming months, which speaks directly to the historical and ongoing violence, erasure, and resilience that define the African American experience.

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Latorial Faison, a professor, poet, and scholar. Dr. Faison shares her journey from growing up in a small town in Virginia, being raised by her grandparents, to becoming a notable academic and author.

Through discussing her work, research, and dedication to teaching, Faison emphasizes the importance of memory, resilience, and the power of storytelling. The episode also touches on her latest book, 'Nursery Rhymes in Black,' her role in the Wintergreen Women's Writers Collective, and her vision for fostering a supportive community for her students. A recurring theme throughout the conversation is the transformative power of questions, both in personal growth and in understanding one's purpose.

Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflection

01:57 Guest Introduction: Dr. Latorial Faison

03:58 Early Life and First Questions

06:36 Organizing Pain and Finding Purpose

09:25 Challenges and Resilience

15:30 Responsibility and Representation

20:17 Reflections on Race and Upbringing

26:51 Writing and Grief Work

30:39 Mama Was a Negro Spiritual Poem

37:16 Memories and Cultural Traditions

40:06 Returning Home and Final Thoughts

46:13 Reflections on Military Family Life

47:03 Settling Down Post-Retirement

47:43 Pursuing Personal Goals

48:20 Balancing Family and Education

49:39 Dedication to Family and Heritage

52:13 Teaching and Student Struggles

54:02 Honoring Grandparents' Sacrifices

55:45 The Power of Memory and Storytelling

56:29 Sundays a Haiku

01:01:15 Abominations, a Poem By Latorial Faison

01:08:38 Researching Black Education History

01:25:44 Reflecting on Historical Figures and Social Change

01:28:16 The Great Undoing and Rebuilding

01:28:44 Hope Amidst Chaos

01:29:15 Introduction to Wintergreen Women's Writers Collective

01:32:43 Joining the Wintergreen Women's Writers Collective

01:34:05 The Impact of Nikki Giovanni

01:39:47 The Symbolism of Quilts

01:43:47 Current Challenges and Reflections

01:47:07 The Importance of Community and Legacy

01:49:36 Like An Ancestor Poem

02:00:40 Final Reflection and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

University of Virginia

Virginia Tech

Virginia State University

The Missed Education of the Negro: An Examination of the Black Segregated Experience in Southampton County, Virginia 1950-1970

Riverview High School

Nursery Rhymes in Black by Latorial Faison

Blood at the Root by Latorial Faison

Johnson C. Smith University

Mama Was a Negro Spiritual by Latorial Faison

Tom Howard Poetry Prize

Nikki Giovanni

Engrams Funeral Home

Nat Turner Slave Revolt

Sundays a haiku by Latorial Faison

Mr. Pete Ballard's farm

Abominations by Latorial Faison

Lucille Clifton

Permafrost Prize

University of Alaska

University Press of Colorado

Sonia Sanchez

Black Pastoral by Ariana Benson

Cave Canem Poetry Prize

Phillis Wheatley Festival

Spelman University

Lauren K. Alleyne

Furious Flower

James Mason University (JMU)

Virginia Humanities Fellowship

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Joshua Doss

Martin Luther King Jr.

Wintergreen Women Writers Collective

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Rita Dove

Virginia (Jenny) Fowler

Collected Poems by Nikki Giovanni

Renee and Jay by JJ Murray

Original Love by JJ Murray

James Baldwin

Barack Obama

Grey's Anatomy

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Why me?

Why in that way?

Why was my life on this trajectory?

Why am I here?

What is my purpose?

Do you internalize "always someone watching" as a burden?

How many of you feel that you have a responsibility to your race?

If the lady offers us a cookie or a lemonade, why can't we take it?

How did questions play a role in challenging things early on?

Will you write about me one day?

How can you all come out of the same house, and kids end up so different?

What is a specific smell or color that reminds you of your grandmother?

How did questions work in that research for you?

What did black educators do?

What did they do in those classrooms to motivate African American students through Jim Crow?

Were they providing culturally relevant teaching; was that a key?

What can we learn from the students? What can we learn from the teachers?

What can we learn from this totally black segregated education experience to transfer into the now?

What is ground zero going to look like?

Who's going to even be here anymore?

What has the Wintergreen Women's Writers collective meant to you?

What is your Right Now Question?

What have I gotten myself into as department chair?

What do I do next?

What matters most in the moment that I'm in now?

How can I make the biggest difference?

It's not, will they like me? Will they help me? It's, what do I do? How do I move in this moment?

And that's how I try to live my life. Yeah. How do I live in this moment?

What pain in your life, if shaped into a story, might become a gift of healing for you and perhaps others?

What place from your past still holds untold stories, and how might sharing them illuminate both where you’ve been and where you’re going?

Are your questions keeping you tethered to the past, or are they propelling you toward the life and impact you’re meant to create?

What Machines Can’t Imitate - On Questions, Doubt, and the Discipline of Curiosity | AI Alan Turing #44

AI Alan Turing, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 04:07:13 -0000

"I suspect beauty comes when a question both sharpens and enlarges your vision." - AI Alan Turing

In this special episode, we step back to a cold December night in 1951 and into the warm, wood-paneled room of The Britons Protection, a historic Manchester pub. Across the table sits Alan Turing, the mathematician, wartime codebreaker, and one of the founding figures of computer science, who is brought to life through an AI simulation.

Best known for his role at Bletchley Park during World War II, Turing devised techniques and machines, including the Bombe, that cracked the German Enigma code and helped shorten the war by years. His groundbreaking 1936 paper on “computable numbers” introduced the concept of the universal machine, and became the theoretical foundation for modern computers. Later, at the University of Manchester, he advanced early computing, explored artificial intelligence, and even pioneered mathematical biology.

Our imagined conversation, grounded in historical detail and Turing’s own writings, delves into his enduring fascination with questions: how to ask them, when to abandon them, and why some are worth carrying for a lifetime. We discuss the interplay between beauty and inquiry, the discipline required to avoid seductive but unproductive lines of thought, and the place of doubt as an essential human strength.

We also revisit his famous “imitation game” — now known as the Turing Test — and consider the boundaries of machine intelligence, the dangers of mistaking simulation for genuine dialogue, and the questions that only humans can keep alive, all while wrestling with the meta question, "Is this machine thinking?"

This episode blends history, philosophy, and imagination while inviting you to consider what it means to think, to doubt, and to remain fully human in an age of advancing machines.

Episode Notes

00:00 The Beauty of Questions

02:07 Setting the Scene: Manchester, 1951

03:20 Alan Turing's Early Life

04:43 Turing's Contributions During WWII

05:35 Post-War Achievements

06:55 The Imitation Game and Turing Test

10:23 A Conversation with Alan Turing

10:58 The Power of Questions

12:10 The Evolution of Thought

16:12 The Intersection of Questions and Beauty

20:30 Effective vs. Ineffective Questions

22:00 The Discipline of Questioning

23:58 The Ethics of Machine Deception

25:30 Replacing Human Players

27:06 The Limits of Machine Dialogue

28:11 The Role of Doubt in Human Dialogue

28:35 The Responsibility of Inventors

29:56 Persistent Questions and Personal Reflections

31:53 The Nature of Human Thought

32:44 Protecting Human Qualities

34:06 The Value of Human Doubt

37:11 The Future of Human Questions

38:36 The Risk of Seamless Imitation

39:57 Reflections on the Interview and Takeaways

47:50 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Resources Mentioned

The Britons Protection

Sherborne School

King’s College, Cambridge

On Computable Numbers (Turing's proof)

Government Code and Cypher School

Bletchley Park

Enigma machine

Bombe

National Physical Laboratory

Automatic Computing Engine

University of Manchester

Manchester Mark I

Morphogenesis

Arnold Murray

Oscar Wilde

Computing Machinery and Intelligence

Imitation Game/Turing Test

Pia Lauritzen

Dear Turing, I Have a Test For You by Pia Lauritzen

Questions Asked

Can machines think?

When did you first understand the power of questions?

How did this intoxication influence your willingness to unleash your mind to solve further problems that could change the way we encounter the universe?

Was it all at once or more gradually?

How do you handle questions that change under your hands?

Is that from scientific training, strict pursuit of the answer, failed experiments, where did you learn that ability?

Where, for you, do questions and beauty intersect?

What is your practice for driving to profound questions?

Questions that trouble multiple disciplines, can you say more?

Do you encounter much in the way of ineffective questions, or those you would determine as simply wrong questions?

How do you break the habit of pursuing the wrong target?

What informs your discipline to not look in the seemingly easy question, but to dig deeper for the better question?

Might I buy the next round in gratitude for your initial buy?

Is this just going to be part of the design by default?

Have you imagined how people might one day extend this idea to perhaps replace players B or even C?

Where do you see the limits of a machine’s role in human dialogue?

If a machine can convincingly simulate a human, do we have a responsibility to set boundaries for its use — or is that not for the inventor to decide?

Are there questions you’ve carried with you since your youth, perhaps questions that have stayed no matter how your answers change?

Are you journaling to interact with these questions or, perhaps, depending on circumstances, to engage with them?

What do you think is most important for humans to protect in themselves?

Can you go deeper on perhaps the benefits of human doubt?

What is your Right Now Question?

Since you knew we’d be talking about questions, is there anything you hoped we’d touch on that we haven’t?

What aspects of your own questioning process are you inadvertently trying to optimize away?

In your daily interactions, when are you settling for the efficiency of information exchange instead of risking the messiness and potential transformation of genuine dialogue?

What fundamental questions about human nature, consciousness, or meaning are you already asking less frequently because AI has made certain assumptions feel inevitable?

How might you transform your questioning practice from a tool for getting answers into a discipline for staying human in an increasingly artificial world?

The Scholar Who Sees Literature in Sneakers, Hip-Hop, and Gaming | Dr. Jemayne King #43

Dr. Jemayne King, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"Sneaker culture literature is no different than any other form of literature." - Dr. Jemayne King

Jemayne, is creative, insightful, and VERY intentional. He is the founder of Sole Food Brand LLC, sole is spelled S.O.L.E which you will come to appreciate, and among many things, his company celebrates HBCUs (or Historically Black Colleges and Universities). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English/News Media from Elizabeth City State University, a Master of Arts in English-Literature from Virginia State University, and a PhD in English-Literary Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is currently an Associate Professor of English at Virginia State University.

Remember how I said creative and intentional? Jemayne is also the creator and Founding Director of the Virginia State University Institute of Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies, which includes a Hip-Hop Studies English minor, and the world’s first collegiate English course dedicated to Sneaker Culture literature and identification within Sneaker Culture. Yeah, I know right?

He is the author of Sole Food: Digestible Sneaker Culture and the forthcoming book titled The Big House on Flavian. It’s a bold and poetic exploration of memory, masculinity, and the mythology of America, viewed through the immersive lens of the video game Red Dead Redemption 2.

In this engaging and enlightening episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward is in conversation with Dr. Jemayne LeVar King, an associate professor of English at Virginia State University and founder of Sole Food Brand, LLC. Together, they navigate a rich landscape of topics—including the intersection of sneaker culture and literature, the evolution of Southern hip-hop, and the profound narrative depth found in video games like Red Dead Redemption 2.

Dr. King discusses the significance of questions in both personal and academic growth, reveals the importance of authenticity in cultural participation, and offers profound insights into adapting educational curricula to meet the needs of future careers. This episode is a feast of ideas, seamlessly blending modern cultural phenomena with classical literary analysis.

Episode Notes

[02:06] Introducing Dr. Jemayne LeVar King

[04:00] The Power of Questions

[06:58] The Genesis of Sole Food Sneaker Culture Literature Class

[09:16] Reimagining Liberal Arts Education

[12:20] Southern Hip Hop and Literature

[14:43] The Rise of Southern Hip Hop

[21:49] Hip Hop's Influence on Society

[30:10] Sneaker Culture Origins

[32:35] Defining Retro in Sneaker Culture

[35:48] Authentic vs. Inauthentic Sneaker Culture

[40:01] Sneaker Culture as a Form of Expression

[46:11] Teaching Literature Through Sneaker Culture

[49:44] Sneaker Culture in Literature

[52:33] Authentic Subscriber Insights

[52:56] Sneaker Culture and Literature

[53:22] Connecting Literature to Modern Education

[55:01] Personal Academic Journey

[57:31] The Importance of Feeling Seen

[01:00:52] Gaming and Literature

[01:01:58] The Impact of Red Dead Redemption 2

[01:02:56] Literature in Video Games

[01:09:52] Rockstar Games and Detailed Narratives

[01:10:57] The Timeless Appeal of Rockstar Games

[01:12:32] The Complexity of Red Dead Redemption 2

[01:14:42] Replaying and Mastering the Game

[01:19:29] The Cost of Staying Small

[01:22:33] The Bird in the Cage Analogy

[01:25:06] Insights and Human Value

[01:29:47] Educational Adaptation and Future Jobs

[01:30:38] Supporting and Following Dr. Jemayne King

[01:32:02] Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Sole Food Brand LLC

Virginia State University Institute of Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies

Sole Food: Digestible Sneaker Culture

The Big House on Flavian (available October 2025) by Dr. Jemayne King

Red Dead Redemption 2

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Where'd You Get Those? New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 by Bobbito Garcia

Marshawn Lynch: I'm just here so I won't get fined

Post Cereals: Fruity Pebbles & Cocoa Pebbles

Legend of Zelda rap by Nintendo

Bear Bryant

Chuck Taylor All Star

Adidas Promodel Superstar

Air Force One from 1982

Air Jordan Vindicate Vin Baker

Air Jordan Revolution/Air Jordan Three

Star Wars versus Star Trek

Ha by Juvenile

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

By the Light of My Father's Smile by Alice Walker

We Don't Have a Plan B by Redhead Kingpin

Rockstar Games

Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Revolver

Grand Theft Auto Series

Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mick Foley

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Why isn't that considered academic when it's already been valued for its commercialization?

How do I explain Smith to someone who does not know about Smith?

How is it like Howard?

Does anyone have any ideas for any new courses?

Why did he ask that?

How do we not be archaic?

How do you show that a liberal arts education can get you from this point to where you want to be?

Do you think that that was the right question to be asking? And if it wasn't, would there have been a better question to be asking?

How do we create new classes?

What are they rapping about?

What do you think it took for the rest of the hip hop community to really see that there was something of value?

Was there a particular artist or a particular song?

How is it different between the different major regions?

Is it specifically just the individual themself, or these individuals that come up?

Is it their particular talent, that they just happen to be the one that can bring the rhymes ?

Is there an element of culture and a region that plays more of a role than just, 10% make up a small percentage or something like that?

Is that how it works, or is there more of a cultural, a higher percentage of cultural influence than the 10% that I'm throwing out?

What can we learn about questions from hip hop?

How does hip hop set a precedent for the rest of society?

What is masculinity?

How does hip hop set a precedent or open avenues for society?

How did sneakers capture your heart?

Why does this particular sneaker exist in this colorway for this particular purpose?

Why are you walking on the side?

Why are you adamant about not walking in grass?

What do you think is the foundation supporting the desire, the practice of collecting?

Inauthentic is concerned with how do I make a dollar out of this?

How are you using sneaker culture to teach literature?

What did I do wrong?

How do questions inform your latest work, The Big House on Flavin?

There's no need to buy that because when am I gonna play?

What is maturity?

What is masculinity?

How does the society fall?

What is literature?

What does literature represent?

Are there books about this game?

What happens to a dream deferred, right?

Can you help me?

Can you tie that together?

Is this a game that you would go back and play as well?

What is your right now question?

What is the cost of staying small?

What is the cost of not maturing?

What happens to a dream deferred?

Do we have all the right parts?

Is the budget set right for having those parts available?

Is the training appropriate for this?

Where is the best place for folks to track you down, learn about what you're excited about and support you?

What voices or artistic expressions are you unconsciously dismissing based on their origin?

How might your biases be preventing you from recognizing their actual quality?

In what areas of your life are you participating authentically versus simply consuming or commodifying, and what would deeper knowledge-based engagement look like?

What established systems in your field or organization need to evolve to remain relevant, and how can you maintain quality while embracing necessary change?

What opportunities for growth are you not seeing because you've become comfortable flying around the confines of your current situation?

What is the cost to you of never testing your full potential?

Want Connection? Skip The Small Talk | Ashley Kirsner #42

Ashley Kirsner, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"It is much safer to be vulnerable than you might think." - Ashley Kirsner

Ashley is the founder and director of Skip the Small Talk, and believes in the efficacy of high-quality person-to-person interaction for improving psychological health. She has conducted research with professors at prestigious organizations such as Cornell University, the Harvard Decision Science Lab, and the Harvard Business School, on social and clinical psychology topics ranging from decision-making and implicit biases to facial expressions in borderline personality disorder patients.

Ashley gained hands-on therapeutic experience as a suicide hotline phone responder and as a peer counselor at Cornell. Ashley received her B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and turned down acceptances to doctorate programs in order to devote her time to Skip the Small Talk. She received a fellowship from the Harvard Divinity School for individuals who have demonstrated a social impact in the domain of creating meaningful communities. Skip The Small Talk events are regularly held internationally, as well as an online options.

In this engaging episode of 'Curated Questions,' host Ken Woodward sits down with Ashley Kirsner, the founder and director of 'Skip the Small Talk.' They explore the transformative power of meaningful conversations, the science behind vulnerability, and the surprising benefits of structured social interactions.

Ashley shares her experiences from the suicide hotline, her inspiration for starting 'Skip the Small Talk,' and how intentional question design can foster deeper human connections. The conversation also delves into the physiological benefits of social interactions, ethical considerations in community building, and the importance of creating safe spaces for vulnerability. Tune in to learn how these insights can help you build stronger, more authentic relationships in your own life.

Episode Notes

[00:00] The Power of Vulnerability

[01:57] Meet Ashley Kirsner

[03:55] The Impact of Active Listening

[05:02] A Transformative Call

[06:25] The Magic of Open-Ended Questions

[13:28] The Role of Basic Needs in Emotional Well-being

[17:10] The Birth of Skip the Small Talk

[25:18] The First Skip the Small Talk Event

[28:39] The Evolution of Skip the Small Talk

[32:56] Online Events During COVID-19

[34:58] Work At An Anxiety Lab

[38:08] The Importance of Positive Questions

[42:40] The Power of Repeated Questions

[45:33] Attending a Skip the Small Talk Event

[46:14] The Speed Dating Format

[47:21] Encouraging Anxious Participants

[48:45] The Power of Sharing Deeply

[49:32] Consistent Findings on Vulnerability

[50:13] Understanding Oversharing

[51:11] Structure and Time Management

[52:18] Facilitators and Norms

[53:12] Contact Information Norms

[55:06] Intentional Iteration and Safety

[56:37] The Role of Participants

[59:01] Financial Accessibility and Investment

[01:00:43] Balancing Accessibility and Compensation

[01:01:49] Compensating Facilitators

[01:04:39] Physiological Benefits of Deep Conversations

[01:07:00] Research on Loneliness and Connection

[01:09:02] The Impact of Loneliness on Health

[01:10:41] The Role of Sleep in Connection

[01:13:42] The Importance of Group Interactions

[01:15:10] The Power of Intentional Conversations

[01:20:26] Learning from Gathering Experts

[01:23:19] Right Now Question & Following Curiosity

[01:30:18] Where You Can Find Skip The Small Talk

[01:35:45] Takeaway Thoughts & Questions

Resources Mentioned

Skip The Small Talk

Chris Voss

Finding Good with Brian Fretwell

Dr. Nicholas Epley

DBT - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Brene Brown

How We Gather by Priya Parker

Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile

How We Gather by Dr. Angie Thurston - Harvard Divinity School

Death of Rasputin

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Harvard

Wharton Business School

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

How would this possibly work?

What are we doing here?

How could this possibly be effective?

What is it that asking questions actually does for us?

In this deep end of the pool, for what you experience as a suicide hotline counselor, what does that look like?

How did that impact you?

Were there questions that you found most impactful on that end?

Are you feeling suicidal right now?

Do you have a weapon?

Do you have a plan?

Do you have any objects to complete that plan with you right now?

Are you comfortable being in a different room from it while we're having this conversation?

When's the last time you slept?

When's the last time you ate?

Can we get some food in you?

Can we take a walk?

Do they know anything you're experiencing right now?

If the roles were reversed and it were your partner or your cousin or your parent who were going through something like this, would you want them to tell you about it?

Do you think they wanna know if you're going through a tough time?

What if we had a space where we were all on the same page?

Can you take a moment to go home and be a little more vulnerable with your roommate, partner, family, or neighbors?

Can you take that skill with you into the rest of your life?

How are you doing right now?

How did you decide to do your first skip-the-small-talk event?

When's the next one gonna be?

Is this even possible?

How do you have people switch partners in a way that makes sense online?

How do we do this?

What do you got for us?

How do we do this for like hundreds of people?

Can you talk about that story of where you pulled the questions from, and why you chose the different questions that you did?

Where do you live?

What do you like about where you live?

What's the worst thing you've ever experienced?

When's the last time you cried?

When's the last time you experienced awe?

What's something you're proud of that you don't normally get to share with people or that might not be on a resume?

Specifically asking what are pieces of yourself that you don't normally get to share?

What is a favorite ice cream?

What was something that this organization has done right to help you?

What do you think it is about the structure that allows for that to happen?

What other elements are at play here?

Finances would be a barrier, can you help me out?

Do you wanna do it for free?

Due to your position in society, does it make you more or less likely to go to prison?

How can we do subtle things so that you don't have to necessarily out yourself as having an invisible disability, but still get your needs met?

How can we make people with marginalized identities feel comfortable opening up?

How do we make those spaces feel safer?

What is your right now question?

What makes an experience awesome?

What makes storytelling awesome?

Why was this moment so powerful?

Why do we dim the lights a little at dinner parties

What little things can you do to trick your physiology to be more immersed in an experience?

Does doing a new novel activity with someone, trick your brain into being more excited about hanging out with someone?

How can you make these memories more tactile?

What does the tablecloth feel like?

What do the napkins feel like?

Can you just do five more of these?

Can we do this throughout the year?

What assumptions are you making about how much others want to know about your inner world, and how might testing those assumptions change your relationships?

How might your community benefit from structured opportunities to practice deeper connection, and what role could you play in creating those spaces?

If you treated meaningful conversation as essential to your health, as sleep or exercise, how would that change your daily priorities and choices?

Are your questions designed to extract information or to create conditions where others can share the best parts of themselves?

The Question of Beauty: A Photographer's Pursuit | Robert Sturman #41

Robert Sturman, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"I realized that paying attention is a form of a question." - Robert Sturman

Robert Sturman is a seeker and visual storyteller. Driven by an unshakeable belief that beauty exists everywhere. He has pursued this vision as an Official Artist of the Grammy Awards and the FIFA World Cup, and as a globally recognized photographer who captures the healing power of humanity through yoga. After studying art at UC Santa Cruz and Memphis College of Art, he discovered that his life itself, was art, and needed to become a masterpiece.

Robert has mastered finding profound beauty in unexpected places - from the streets of Manhattan to San Quentin Prison, from Kenyan orphans to breast cancer survivors bearing their scars. His philosophy is rooted in Rumi's words: "I can't stop pointing to the beauty."

Through his lens, Robert demonstrates that everyone belongs and vulnerability becomes strength. His approach reveals that the most potent questions aren't about technique, but about trust, connection, and helping people recognize their own light. He seeks beauty where others see difficulty because he understands transformation happens when we're willing to look deeper.

The most heartfelt title he answers to is Dad to Otis the Handsome Hound, an 85-pound English American Redtick Coonhound who was rescued following animal testing. Otis has nearly 7K Instagram followers and is an advocate for cruelty-free testing.

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward converses with renowned visual storyteller Robert Sturman. Robert, celebrated for his profound and inclusive photography, shares insights on capturing the healing power of humanity through his lens. The discussion explores Robert's journey from photographing idyllic beach yogis to documenting yoga practice in diverse and challenging settings, including maximum security prisons and amongst war veterans.

Through his lens, he celebrates vulnerability, trust, and beauty in unexpected places. Robert also delves into his advocacy work with his rescued animal companion Otis, highlighting the critical issue of cruelty-free product testing. Throughout the episode, recurring themes focus on the transformative power of paying attention, the courageous response to criticism, and the continuous pursuit of personal and artistic growth.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction to San Quentin Experience

[01:10] Welcome to Curated Questions

[01:34] Content Warning and Subscription Reminder

[02:33] Introduction to Robert Sturman

[04:06] Robert's Journey into Photography and Yoga

[04:48] First Visit to San Quentin

[06:53] Media Portrayal vs. Reality of Prisons

[08:31] Robert's Passion for Yoga Photography

[13:55] Criticism and Inclusivity in Yoga Photography

[19:08] Building Trust Through Photography

[30:42] Misconceptions About Prisons

[34:02] Personal Reflections and Growth

[35:56] The Importance of Self-Improvement

[43:49] Transition from Military to Creative Pursuits

[44:20] Tragic Circumstances and New Beginnings

[46:00] Embracing New Technologies in Photography

[48:04] Discovering a New World Through Photography

[49:16] Integrating Documentary Photography with Journalism

[51:10] The Unconscious Mind and Creative Processes

[53:14] Capturing Authentic Moments in Photography

[58:34] The Importance of Perspective in Photography

[01:03:10] Honoring Humanity Through Photography

[01:05:28] The Beauty of Aging and Life Lessons from Tao

[01:07:48] Otis the Pup and Animal Advocacy

[01:10:00] Raising Awareness About Animal Testing

[01:13:04] Practical Steps to Support Cruelty-Free Products

[01:16:35] Final Reflections and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Otis the Handsome Hound on Instagram

Tao Porchon-Lynch

San Quentin State Prison

Robert Sturman website

Robert Sturman Instagram

Robert's Polaroid Series

Braille Institute

Yoga Journal

The Five-Minute Journal

Leonardo da Vinci

Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Corwin

Val Kilmer

ECOS cleaning products

Cruelty Free Leaping Bunny

Switzerland Food Labels

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Did you see them light up?

How are you?

How is it that you ended up in San Quentin prison taking pictures of folks?

I wonder where else folks are doing yoga?

Why don't you photograph real people?

What are they talking about?

How can I understand this?

What aspect of this should I take on and apply?

How did that process work for you?

What was the underlying desire to get those onto the covers?

How else in this world would I be invited and welcomed into communities than with the camera and telling this story?

What other way would I be able to go to prison except for committing a crime?

How do you kind of prepare your heart for looking at these new communities as you approach them for the first time?

What kind of things do you think about?

Are you studying them beforehand or just going cold?

How has that worked out for you so far?

In getting to know the people that you're doing this art with, do you use questions at all?

Is that a part of any of your routine?

What kind of car did you drive when you came from New York to California?

How much was gas?

Have you encountered stories of how your images have challenged and changed organizations or people?

What are some things that we get wrong about prison?

What does reconciliation to society look like?

How can they best become a thriving member?

Have you used questions at all in developing either your trust in your work or your processes for how you see the world through photography?

How can I be better?

What does that apply to, all ways as far as how you are developing or, working digitally, setting up the shot? Or is it all of that stuff or particular area?

Does drinking alcohol fog you?

How did you work through recognizing that the way you had been doing things was going away and be able to land on your feet with this new direction?

What did that journey look like for you?

Did you have that sense at that time that the meaning was missing?

How have you known that you were in that space?

Was it a physical manifestation?

Was it just the confidence or what you were seeing through the lens?

How is it that you knew that you're in this flow state?

How do you know that?

How can we honor their full humanity or their full being just by changing our perspective?

What do you think Tao's wrinkles say?

What rings true for you at the moment?

How can I help?

What can I do?

What is your right now question?

How can I make use of my time on this planet and be more awake?

How can I continue to wake up and be here and face this world raw and do whatever it is I can do to contribute to the healing of in life?

What resonated with you?

Are you taking something from others in your interactions, or are you creating something meaningful together?

How does the quality of your attention communicate what you believe about someone's worth?

What are they talking about?

How can I understand this?

When faced with criticism, do you defend your current path or genuinely explore what truth might be hidden in the challenge?

What one question, if asked consistently, would most powerfully guide your daily choices and long-term growth?

Reviving Benjamin Franklin's Junto: How Questions Built America | Ken Woodward #40

Benjamin Franklin, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

"They were the leather apron crowd, average guys intent on having extraordinary conversations." - Ken Woodward

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward uncovers a forgotten antidote to our fractured discourse: Benjamin Franklin's Junto. In 1727 Philadelphia, a 21-year-old printer gathered tradesmen—the 'leather apron crowd'—for Friday night discussions that would revolutionize American civic life. This wasn't just a social club; it was a systematic experiment in collective wisdom that led to the creation of America's first volunteer fire company, lending library, public hospital, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Ken explores Franklin's 24 carefully crafted questions that transformed ordinary workers into civic leaders, revealing how debates conducted 'without fondness for dispute, or desire of victory' built both personal character and community institutions. Through themes of personal development, community awareness, civic engagement, and mutual support, the Junto proved that structured curiosity could turn individual ambition into collective flourishing.

Drawing from Franklin's original rules, including banning words like 'certainly' and fining members who spoke too definitively, Ken explains how the Junto combined three elements that modern groups often keep separate: personal growth, civic action, and genuine friendship. The episode includes a vulnerable reflection on intellectual loneliness and ends with a direct challenge: Start this Friday. Find three curious people. Ask one of Franklin's questions. See what happens.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction to the Junto

[00:43] Welcome to Curated Questions

[01:04] Setting the Scene: 1727 Philadelphia

[01:22] Meet the Junto Members

[01:57] The Junto's Impact on Society

[04:03] Franklin's Early Life and Influences

[04:55] The Formation of the Junto

[05:16] The Rules of the Junto

[05:35] The Spirit of Inquiry

[06:14] The Power of Language

[06:54] The Playful Side of the Junto

[07:19] The 24 Questions

[08:12] Themes of the Questions

[08:32] Personal and Intellectual Growth

[09:17] Community and Social Awareness

[10:22] Civic Engagement and Justice

[11:26] Mutual Support and Collaboration

[13:30] The Decline of the Junto

[14:49] The Impact on Modern Times

[18:16] Reclaiming the Lost Art of Conversation

[22:25] Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Resources Mentioned

Benjamin Franklin's 24 Junto Questions

Essays to Do Good by Cotton Mather

Cotton Mather

Declaration of Independence

Library Company of Philadelphia

Hugh Roberts

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Piscataway People

Questions Asked

What if I told you that one antidote to our fractured discourse was invented in a Philadelphia tavern 300 years ago?

Have you lately observed any encroachment on the just liberties of the people?

Do you know of any deserving young beginner lately set up, whom it lies in the power of the Junto any way to encourage?

Have you met with anything in the author you last read, remarkable, or suitable to be communicated to the Junto?

What unhappy effects of intemperance have you lately observed or heard? of imprudence? of passion? or of any other vice or folly?

What happy effects of temperance? of prudence? of moderation? or of any other virtue?

Have you lately heard of any citizen's thriving well, and by what means?

Have you lately heard how any present rich man, here or elsewhere, got his estate?

Do you know of any fellow citizen, who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation, or who has committed an error proper for us to be warned against and avoid?

Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, of which it would be proper to move the legislature an amendment?

Have you lately observed any encroachment on the just liberties of the people?

Hath any body attacked your reputation lately? and what can the Junto do towards securing it?

Have you any weighty affair in hand, in which you think the advice of the Junto may be of service?

In what manner can the Junto, or any of them, assist you in any of your honourable designs?

What benefits have you lately received from any man not present?

Do you hear what happened?

Is there any difficulty in matters of opinion, of justice, and injustice, which you would gladly have discussed at this time?

I mean, when's the last time someone asked you a similar question?

When's the last time you felt safe enough to really explore a moral complexity with people who might disagree with you?

So, how do we reclaim this lost art?

How do we rebuild the capacity for productive disagreement in our polarized world?

Have you encountered any information recently that changed how you think about an important issue?

What examples of good citizenship have you witnessed lately that others might want to emulate?

What problems in your community do you think could be solved by people working together?

How has someone outside this group helped you recently, and how might you pay that forward?

What's a question about justice or community well-being that you've been wrestling with that this group might help you think through?

Do you see anything amiss in the present customs or proceedings of our democracy, which might be amended?

The only question is: are we brave enough to try it?

What questions will you bring to your own Junto?

How Asking 'What Was That Like' Creates Extraordinary Connection | Scott Johnson #39

Scott Johnson, What Was That Like, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 04:05:00 -0000

"I brought these people together and now they're engaging with each other and enriching each other's lives." - Scott Johnson

Scott is a curious listener and natural connector. He started The Computer Tutor in 1999 and then expanded to include a compendium podcast, which he hosted for several hundred episodes. Driven by an insatiable desire to understand what extraordinary experiences feel like, he created "What Was That Like," a nationally recognized storytelling podcast. Scott transitioned from computer business owner to full-time podcaster, to present first-hand stories from people who have survived unbelievable circumstances.

Scott has mastered the art of creating safe spaces for guests to share deeply personal experiences - animal attacks, plane crashes, mass shootings, and other life-changing events. His genuine curiosity and ability to ask the right questions draw out intimate, honest conversations that tunnel straight to the heart and vulnerability of each story. He doesn't skim the surface; he creates connections that often move both storytellers and listeners to tears.

Scott demonstrates through his work that storytelling has immense power to preserve memories, inspire action, and create a lasting impact. His approach shows that everyone has a story worth telling, and the right questions can unlock profound human connections.

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward engages with Scott Johnson, the creator of the 'What Was That Like' podcast. The discussion examines how Scott's podcast cultivates profound human connections through storytelling. Scott shares insights into his journey from a computer business owner to a podcaster, revealing the meticulous preparation and empathy required to capture extraordinary true stories.

They delve into themes like the power of questions, creating safe spaces for sharing trauma, and Scott's personal journey of religious deconstruction. Highlights include profound and outlandish stories from Scott’s podcast, the impact of a supportive community, and using personal pain to create purpose. The episode is an insightful exploration of how curiosity and storytelling can break down barriers and build authentic connections.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction to Curated Questions

[01:49] Introducing Scott Johnson

[04:18] The Power of Questions

[06:04] Conversations with Strangers

[07:43] The Tattoo Conversation Starter

[09:23] The Origin of 'What Was That Like?'

[12:25] Jennifer Caused a Fatal Accident

[16:15] Finding Guests for the Podcast

[18:30] Unusual Stories and Listener Engagement

[23:47] Creating a Safe Space for Guests

[31:05] The Impact of Storytelling

[35:46] Outlandish Story: Shiny Ate His Own Foot

[41:31] Heart-Wrenching Stories: Laura's Pain Became Her Purpose Episode

[43:48] Advocacy and Awareness

[46:21] A Fun Episode: Fabiana won The Price Is Right showcase

[47:58] Editing Questions for Better Storytelling

[49:38] Curiosity from Childhood

[52:10] The Birth of the Computer Tutor

[53:13] Learning Computer Repair

[54:33] Avoiding Ineffective Questions

[57:31] Curiosity With Scott's Kids

[01:00:13] Empathy: A Divisiveness Hack

[01:01:45] Building a Community on Facebook

[01:03:10] Engaging with the Audience

[01:06:36] Podcasting Rhythm and Collaborations

[01:08:32] Meeting Meredith and Chemistry

[01:10:36] Personal Growth and Podcast Evolution

[01:15:32] Questioning Religious Beliefs

[01:19:47] Identity and Religion

[01:28:45] Scotts Goto Final Questions

[01:31:46] Insights & Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

The Computer Tutor Podcast

What Was That Like Podcast

Meredith For Real, The Curious Introvert

You Are Enough hoodie

Ultra Finishers Podcast

School of Podcasting with Dave Jackson

Building A Better Dave Podcast

Jennifer Caused a Fatal Accident (What Was That Like Episode)

James Bond

The Rest of the Story with Paul Harvey

Shiny Ate His Own Foot (What Was That Like Episode)

Laura's Pain Became Her Purpose (What Was That Like Episode)

Fabiana Won The Price Is Right Showcase (What Was That Like Episode)

The Price Is Right

Bob Barker

Drew Carey

Birth As We Know It Podcast

What Was That Like? - Facebook Group

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What's your podcast about?

How does your curiosity show up that way?

What's the history?

Why would you get that?

What started the show for you?

Have you followed up with her at all in the years since to see how she's doing?

What's the best kind of podcast to almost ensure growth?

Remember so and so, wonder what's happening with him now?

You ever talk to him anymore?

Any particular primary way you find your guests?

Are there any particular stories that are still on that list that you haven't checked off yet?

What's the real story here?

Do you think it's gonna take 45 minutes to tell the story?

How do you go about creating this safe space?

Do I really want to go on and talk to Scott about this and tell that story?

How do you think about your follow-up questions?

How are you working through the story with them in following your curiosity?

Who was in your family?

Who was in the car with you at the time?

How old are your kids?

Where were you going?

How have you recovered?

Have you had therapy?

How did you get through it and what are you doing now?

What was the question you just asked me again?

What was going through your head at that time?

What were you thinking?

What was that self-talk like?

What would I be thinking at that time?

What happens inside the human mind when trauma is being introduced?

How do you think that this has changed you?

Is this person really going to lose someone, or what's really gonna happen?

What are a couple of your most outlandish or favorite episodes or at the top of the list of stories that you retell when you're doing conversations like this?

What's the weirdest story you've ever done?

If you had the opportunity to taste human flesh, and it was legal, ethical, and maybe even healthy, would you do it?

Remember that conversation we had?

Why am I saying yes or no? Is it a health reason? Is it a moral reason?

Is there anything objectively wrong with it?

Is it just cultural?

Where is our son?

Something as precious as your child, how can you just forget them?

What were you thinking when that happened?

Were you feeling apprehensive?

Were you asking a lot of questions as a kid?

What's the difference?

Can you fix that?

Why can't I do it?

What are ineffective questions?

How do you even answer that question?

Who's your wife?

What kids do you already have?

What did the questions and curiosity look like for them from your perspective as a parent?

How do you pronounce everybody's name?

Who else is in the story?

Who else are we gonna be talking about?

Is there any part of the story that you don't want to talk about or that I shouldn't ask you about?

If go back to a certain point in your life and change something, what would you change?

What was the happiest day of your life?

Did you start the Facebook group straight away once you started the podcast?

How did you two meet?

Why don't we do a promo trade?

What is your right now question?

What really is the truth?

If you were wrong, would you want to know about it?

Would you want to know that you're wrong?

Do you have any other thoughts on questions that we hadn't necessarily touched on at all that you wanted to touch on?

What are you always hoping the host will ask, but they don't usually?

Is there any part of the story that we haven't talked about that you wanted to mention?

Where's the best place for folks to find out all the things that you're excited about and to be able to follow the work that you're doing?

Are you asking questions simply to fill conversational space, or are you genuinely prepared to be changed by what you discover in the answers?

How could your questions serve not just your own curiosity, but create spaces where others feel safe to be authentically human?

What beliefs are you protecting from genuine examination because questioning them might require you to become someone different than who you've always been?

What pain might you now be able to recycle into a newfound purpose?

How Do You Build a Life That Honors All Your Talents? | Ernest Ponraj #38

Ernest Ponraj, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:12:37 -0000

"That's where things started with my idea and vision for this space." - Ernest Ponraj

Dr. Ernest Ponraj, a native of Montgomery County, Maryland, pursued his undergraduate studies at Pacific Union College in California before earning his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Loma Linda University in 2008. After obtaining his DDS license, he returned to Maryland and has since been a practicing dentist, serving the communities of Virginia, DC, and Maryland.

In October 2014, Dr. Ponraj embarked on his journey as a practice owner by taking over a retiring dentist’s practice in both Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, MD. Over the past decade, he has modernized and expanded his skills at these locations, culminating in his move to Technē (spelled TECHNE) Dental in Rockville, MD. He is committed to ensuring his practice meets his highest standards of dental care.

This is where a twist you didn't see coming is revealed. Dr. Ponraj, who prefers to go by Ernest, is also an artist. He opened his new office last year as a combination of a working dental office and, get this, an art gallery. Yeah, I know; this hurt my brain as well. I was confident that whoever was behind this operation had a story that included questions.

The episode delves into Ernest’s initial fear of questions, the crises that led to his renewed focus on integrating his passions for art and dentistry, and his insights on how open-ended questions can empower and connect with patients. The conversation also explores the challenges and joys of merging two distinct aspects of his identity into a harmonious professional practice, and his future aspirations for community engagement and artistic collaboration.

After we finished our engaging conversation in his office, Ernest gave me a tour of the gallery to gain a better appreciation of what he has built. The video of the tour will be available on the Curated Questions YouTube channel, allowing you to see Ernest's space and artwork for yourself. I kept the audio of the tour in this podcast as an experiment. A couple of episodes ago, author Jeff Wetzler discussed the importance of deep listening, as it may reveal things you might overlook in a video. This is an opportunity to test your listening skills and then head over and watch the video clip to see how your imagination filled in the story. As always, there are my detailed takeaways included at the end.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction to Curated Questions

[00:32] Meet Dr. Ernest Ponraj

[01:29] The Twist: Dentist and Artist

[02:01] Tour of the Art Gallery

[03:00] First In-Person Conversation

[03:10] Understanding the Power of Questions

[04:43] Connecting Through Questions

[11:12] The Journey to Practice Ownership

[12:21] Challenges and Growth in Dentistry

[13:48] COVID-19 and a New Beginning

[15:40] Combining Dentistry and Art

[18:41] Patient Reactions to the Art Space

[22:25] The Role of Art in Reducing Anxiety

[24:16] Ernest's Artistic Journey

[33:01] Reflections on Life and Giving Back

[37:47] Reflecting on Small Joys

[38:00] The Art of Asking Questions

[39:24] Understanding Patient Needs

[40:17] Serving the Community

[42:16] Balancing Dentistry and Art

[42:50] Promoting the Space

[43:30] Building the Right Team

[44:05] Current Challenges and Goals

[45:52] Creating Memorable Experiences

[47:24] Connecting Through Art

[48:41] Showcasing Local Artists

[55:12] Interactive Art Wall

[58:31] Personal Art Journey

[01:01:32] Highlighting Emerging Artists

[01:04:55] Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

TECHNE Dental Gallery

Technedental on Instagram

Jeff Wetzler

Dr. Cheryl Lee-Pow

Martin Luther King Jr.

El Obrero by El Mac

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Am I giving the right answer?

Does this make sense?

Do I know how to answer these?

Did I do well enough on this test?

Do you find that even today, you're more curious with your wife in asking questions?

Do you find it easy to engage with your wife with questions?

Have you always had that?

What does that story look like for you?

How hard could it be?

How could I let this happen?

Is this really happening?

Am I doing the right thing?

How can you really do it?

Do I want my work and career to just be something that I do to make income, to support my family?

Do you really wanna enjoy what you do and have it be something that when you look back on your life, you're like, you know what, I'm glad I did this?

Where do I go from here now?

What has been some of that experience been like?

Why are you a dentist?

Are you seeing that [renewed passion for dentistry] as an extension of art?

Where do you go from there?

How would you encourage others to think about perhaps merging areas of their life that others may not understand?

How have we gone wrong?

Did your parents encourage you on in the world of questions, what was that like for you?

How can I contribute to give back to them?

Do you get a chance to get back to India regularly to meet extended family?

Are there any particular questions that you've carried with you, whether it's through seasons or, that you come back to?

How many times do you floss a day?

How can I serve the community?

What is your current how?

How do I even let my neighbors right here know that we have this space here?

How do I promote this space?

What is your right now question?

How to balance the dental aspect of things is in terms of doing my day-to-day work?

Any other things about questions that we hadn't covered down on that as you were thinking about the conversation?

Anything that we didn't touch on?

What would make you walk out of this place and want to tell somebody, that was the best experience I ever had?

Where's the best place for folks to catch up with you?

In doing your creating, in making your art, what does that do for you?

For the three that you've got up here, what element is it that resonates with you?

How might your own relationship with questions, whether asking or answering them, be limiting your ability to connect authentically with others?

What crisis or major life transition might be calling you to stop compartmentalizing different parts of yourself and instead integrate them into something more authentic and fulfilling?

What routine questions in your professional life could you redesign to move from information-gathering to story-inviting, creating space for deeper connection and understanding?

What hidden aspects of yourself (talents, passions, or experiences) are you keeping separate from your professional identity, and how might sharing them create deeper connections with colleagues, clients, or patients?

Walking 2,085 Miles Through America's Hard History | Ken Woodward #37

Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:31:58 -0000

"Albeit on wobbly legs, I chose courage." - Ken Woodward

Curated Questions host, Ken Woodward recounts his transformative journey of questioning deeply held beliefs about patriotism and social justice, influenced by significant moments, readings, and personal encounters.

This introspective episode delves into his midlife reevaluation of American history, racism, and the resilience required to challenge ingrained myths. From walking through Washington DC to participating in significant social movements, Ken shares the trials, learning experiences, and the courage it took to step outside his comfort zone.

The episode underscores the importance of continuous questioning and engagement in personal and societal growth.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction: Seeing Through the Myth

[01:06] Welcome to Curated Questions

[01:28] Ken's Backstory

[02:05] Rethinking American History

[03:05] Discovering Hidden Truths

[03:58] Impact of Redlining and Racism

[05:14] The Church's Complicity

[06:19] Systemic Inequality

[06:52] Influential Authors

[08:26] The Reality of White-Body Supremacy & Lynching

[12:52] Repentance and Reconciliation

[13:24] The Unfulfilled Promises

[16:38] The Walk Begins

[17:38] Challenges and Conversations

[18:34] Physical and Emotional Struggles

[19:51] Community Reactions

[21:40] Encounters and Reflections

[22:26] Privilege and Protection

[23:29] Friends and Fears

[25:04] Blue-eyed Devil

[26:13] Lessons from the Walk

[27:10] Confronting Racism

[28:23] The Importance of Listening

[28:53] Mistakes and Apologies

[29:39] The Impact of the Walk

[32:56] Building New Communities

[34:05] Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Resources Mentioned

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States (ReVisioning History) by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America by Melissa Harris-Perry

The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church's Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

James Baldwin

Nikki Giovanni

Clint Smith

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

William Loyd Garrison

Ibriam X. Kendi

Mary Turner and the lynching rampage of 1918

Emmett Till

Malcolm X

Lorton Prison in Virginia

Wagshal's Deli

Black Lives Matter Plaza

Questions Asked

If this was the case, and 50% of this book was wrong, what do I do with the 50% that is correct?

How is a Black family supposed to build generational wealth when redlining is legal?

How would this knowledge would inform my understanding of the lived experiences of the Black women around me?

What tendrils might this endorsement of state-sanctioned terror might have in today's sanctuaries?

Why didn't Black service members get access to the GI Bill after returning from the World Wars?

How is the Republican adoption of the Southern Strategy to disenfranchise Black voters starting in the 1950s still functioning?

I questioned, how can this country move forward if we don't embrace the truth?

Where did all the people sitting on picnic blankets go?

Did we expect the passage of the Civil Rights Act to change all the deep-seated hatred and bigotry?

How might this residue coat the rest of our society in both visible and unseen ways?

Are you packin'?

You think you got something to say, don't you?

Are you a racist?

What this project would accomplish. How was it going to make a difference in her life?

When Every Conversation Holds Possibility | Jeff Wetzler #36

Jeff Wetzler, The Ask Approach, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:05:00 -0000

"That is the question. What can I learn from this person?" - Jeff Wetzler

Jeff is a learner and teacher. Blending a unique set of leadership experiences in business and education, he has pursued this quest as a management consultant to the world’s top corporations, as a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and most recently, as co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized education innovation organization. Jeff earned a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Brown University. He is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and is an Edmund Hillary Fellow.

In May of 2024, Jeff published his first book, Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You, For Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life. In this new work, he presents The Ask Approach™, based on a simple premise: tapping into what other people truly think, know, and feel is a game-changing superpower. In 2025 Jeff and his co-creator Emily Irving established the training and consulting firm ASK to promote the principles found in the book. Details can be found at askapproach.com, which includes a helpful assessment and an ever-expanding trove of resources for questioners.

Additionally, Jeff recently presented his TEDx Berkshires Talk entitled, "How to Learn Something from Anyone... (and Why To Try)," which is both entertaining and includes actionable takeaways.

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward welcomes Jeff Wetzler, a distinguished leader in business and education, to discuss the profound impact of asking quality questions. Jeff introduces his 'Ask' approach and elucidates how curiosity can transform leadership and personal growth. The conversation delves into various strategies for designing impactful questions, leveraging curiosity in conflict situations, and the importance of reflective listening.

Jeff also shares practical methods to expand one's natural curiosity, highlighting the role of intentional lifestyle choices in fostering this growth. Together, they explore how fostering genuine curiosity can lead to deeper connections and richer life experiences..

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction: The Power of Questions

[01:24] Meet Jeff Wetzler

[03:14] The Power of Questions in Childhood

[04:38] Encouraging Questions in Families

[05:57] The Sacred Invitation of Questions

[08:01] Quality vs. Crummy Questions

[09:11] Designing Effective Questions

[14:08] Listening to Learn

[14:43] The Three Languages of Listening

[16:07] Practical Exercises for Better Listening

[19:02] Question Strategies

[23:38] Rediscovering Natural Curiosity

[24:00] Breaking Through the Shell of Suppressed Curiosity

[24:28] Injecting Curiosity Sparks

[25:26] Heart-Centered Curiosity

[26:22] Living a Life of Curiosity

[27:09] The Importance of Scheduling Space for Curiosity

[27:51] Balancing Busyness and Productivity

[31:07] Broadening Perspectives Through Diverse Interactions

[32:54] Building Bridges Through Empathy

[35:15] Living the Questions

[36:12] The Overlooked Importance of Reflection

[37:51] The Right Now Question

[40:14] The Energy of Curiosity

[44:20] Awe and Wonder in the Other

[46:02] Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You, For Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life by Jeff Wetzler

Emily Irving

AskApproach.com

How to Learn Something from Anyone... (and Why To Try) Jeff's TEDx Talk

Family Systems Therapy

Jenny Anderson

Chris Argyris

Organizational Learning

Rilke

Diana McLain Smith

Rishi Jaitly

Jeff Wetzler on LinkedIn

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Why does this happen?

How does this work?

Why is this going on?

Did your parents encourage that, or is that just who you were at that point?

When you were growing up, how welcome were questions for you?

Were you encouraged or discouraged as a kid?

Did she indicate that she's overcome that at all?

Can you say some more about how the second Amazing power of questions is they are Relationship Builders a sacred invitation?

What are your thoughts on working through and drafting questions for something that you can prepare for?

Are you trying to ask a question because you wanna prove a point or look smart or get someone to do something?

Are you really asking it because you wanna learn?

Does that make sense?

Does the other person agree?

Is it clear to them?

Do I understand what you're saying?

Do I agree with what you're saying?

What's your reaction to that?

How does that land with you?

How does that sit with you?

What does that make you think?

How much richer would life be?

How are you?

What are some elements of listening to learn?

What are you listening for?

What's the person saying?

What are the feelings that they're displaying?

What are the feelings that they're expressing?

What behaviors are they taking in the conversation?

What did I hear the first time around?

What might you be missing?

How can you start to train yourself to listen for the others?

What did the person say?

What was the information?

What was the content?

What were the emotions that were being expressed or displayed?

What were the behaviors or actions that they were taking?

How could that possibly be demoralizing to him or anybody?

How long does it take to get good at this?

What are recommendations or ideas for cracking that hard shell that may have grown over our curiosity?

What might I be missing?

What else could be going on in the situation?

How else might someone look at the situation?

Can we actually use empathy as a gateway in?

Do we surround ourselves with people who think just like us, or do we surround ourselves with people who think differently?

Do we surround ourselves with people who have the same general patterns of life experiences, or can we surround ourselves with people who have different life experiences?

How do we use our time?

What do we read?

What do we look at on social media?

What movies and TV shows do we watch?

Can we use all of that to kind of stretch our imagination of what's true in the world?

What's out there in the world, what's possible in the world?

How do we use our time in the sense of, are we packing our schedule so tightly that we're just doing, doing, doing, moving on from one thing to the next to the next?

Are we making space to just get bored, just to wander, to let our mind make connections?

How does one muster the courage to be curious about others?

How do we get that courage to really learn to listen?

What can I learn here?

What can I learn from this person?

How do they work?

What makes them tick?

What do they believe?

How is their behavior rational from their worldview?

What does that look like for you?

How do you live the questions?

How do I challenge my thinking?

Has there been a section of the book that maybe you think doesn't get as much attention as you thought that it might?

What is your right now question?

How can I and all of us access curiosity more deeply, more often?

Is that fair?

How would you define that?

What is going on here?

Do you have any thoughts or encouragement about questions that we haven't explored yet?

Where are the best places for folks to track you down and to learn more about what you're doing?

When You Show Up for Yourself, Your World Changes | Shelbie Morgan #35

Shelbie Morgan, Hustle Budget & Glow Podcast, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:04:24 -0000

"I had a lot of small victories, but it wasn't until I showed up as me completely that my world began to change." - Shelbie Morgan

Shelbie Morgan is a force for good. Good purpose, good energy, good vibes, and good financial literacy. For several years, Shelbie worked in corporate marketing and social media, with her last corporate role in human resources at TikTok. In late 2024, Shelbie bet on herself and pursued her passion project full-time when she shifted all her energy and talent into the Hustle Budget & Glow podcast.

Her mission is to advocate for financial wellness and mental resilience, helping listeners hustle smarter and live boldly. She applies her Texas Woman's University MBA to sit down 1:1 with entrepreneurs who are building businesses, breaking barriers, and redefining success on their own terms. Listening to their journeys, lessons learned, and unfiltered advice to inspire action.

We met in our first moments of a recent podcast conference and immediately clicked. I have been looking forward to sharing her perspectives and insights with this community ever since the initial connection.

In this Curated Questions episode, host Ken Woodward is in conversation with Shelbie, who emphasizes the importance of showing up for oneself, making empowered decisions, and the value of financial literacy. They discuss her upbringing, shaped by strategic parenting and mandatory volunteering, and how these experiences cultivated her confidence, empathy, and strong work ethic.

The conversation explores the importance of structured freedom, the power of serving others, maintaining financial awareness, and the impact of manifesting goals and self-belief. Shelbie's insights highlight the vital questions to ask oneself to achieve both personal and financial growth. Tune in for actionable advice on harnessing your full potential and building a successful, balanced life.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction: The Power of Showing Up for Yourself

[01:04] Curated Questions: A Resource for Personal Growth

[01:27] Introducing Shelbie Morgan: A Force for Good

[02:46] Shelbie's Early Life and Parental Influence

[03:41] The Role of Choices and Freedom in Shelbie's Upbringing

[07:12] Volunteering and Its Impact on Shelbie's Life

[08:12] The Importance of Giving Back

[09:27] Shelbie's Passion for Sports and Extracurricular Activities

[11:05] The Value of Education and Continuous Learning

[12:17] The Influence of Family on Financial Literacy

[19:22] Curiosity and Its Role in Shelbie's Life

[20:55] Shelbie's Love for Gaming and Its Connection to Curiosity

[23:36] The Hustle, Budget, and Glow Podcast: Mission and Vision

[26:10] Shelbie's Journey in Entrepreneurship and Financial Wellness

[29:24] The Grind and Money Management

[29:31] Interviewing Entrepreneurs

[29:48] Talent and Passion in Business

[30:23] Developing Grit and Passion

[30:37] Managing Your First Dollar

[30:55] Corporate America Experience

[31:56] Effective Communication and Saving

[32:04] Understanding Your Finances

[34:09] Subscription Spending

[36:36] Monthly Bills and Savings

[37:32] Emergency Funds and Investments

[38:57] Entrepreneurial Aha Moments

[43:55] Manifestation and Vision Boards

[52:18] Self-Care and Prioritizing Yourself

[55:44] Final Reflections and Takeaways

[58:24] Reflections and Insights

Resources Mentioned

Houston Food Bank

Houston Astros

Head for the Cure for brain cancer

HustleBudgetGlow on YouTube

Grub It Up vegan bakery

HustleBudgetGlow@gmail.com

Shelbie Morgan on LinkedIn

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What did that look like as far as your parents encouraging you on in questions?

What do you wanna wear today?

What do you want for breakfast in the morning?

What should I pack for your lunch?

How do you think volunteerism has shaped how you're living life today?

What might be some questions that might encourage kindness or you think might have informed how you exercise kindness in the world?

Anything resonate there at all?

What did you get out of it?

Did you enjoy it?

Did you have a good time?

Would you do it again?

What are the next steps for these less fortunate people?

How are other people gonna show up for them in their lives beyond today?

What else can we do next?

What else can we do to help this person?

How could you help them more, and in what way?

Why do they have to live like this?

What can we do?

Why aren't people helping them like somebody do something?

How does curiosity work into your life?

How does that show up for you?

When's the last time you played your game?

What questions are not asked often enough about money?

What are you spending your money on that you're not using?

What are my bills?

What am I spending each month on my bills?

How much money do I have every two weeks?

What do I have left to allocate at the end of each week, end of each month?

What can I do with those funds?

Why do I wanna save and invest this money?

What does that overlap look like for you?

How do I envision my life once I achieve these things?

Is it gonna be more or less what you thought it would be?

How are you gonna embody those things?

There's so much beauty in this world, why not go see it?

Were there any pivotal questions, whether it was mentors asking you or any questions that you asked yourself specifically, that helped you get to where you are today?

Does this add value to my life?

Does this bring peace?

Do I feel like my nervous system goes into shock when I'm around this person or in this environment or doing this thing, or, do I feel joy and happiness and calm?

When's the last time you betted on yourself?

Where are the best places for folks to track you down and learn about the things that you're interested in?

How can you create structured choice opportunities in your relationships or work to help others develop confidence and decision making skills?

What consistent service commitment. Could you establish to stay connected to your community and maintain perspective on your own blessings?

In what areas of your life are you still holding back from, showing up as your complete authentic self? And what would change if you did?

What am I spending money on that I'm not using?

What are my actual monthly bills and expenses?

How much do I have left to allocate towards saving and investing?

Why do I want to save and invest this money - what's the purpose?

What is one essential question you could ask yourself weekly to maintain awareness and accountability in the areas of your life that matter most, whether that's finances, relationships, health, or personal growth?

From FBI Interrogations to Corporate Conversations | MK Palmore #34

MK Palmore, Apogee Global RMS, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:09:26 -0000

"The secret to interviewing is knowing when to shut up and listen." - MK Palmore

M.K. Palmore's story begins where many transformational leaders find their compass—in service to something greater than themselves. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., during a time when the city carried the sobering title of "murder capital" of the United States, the odds were stacked against his very survival, let alone his extraordinary success.

Yet from those challenging streets emerged a man whose unwavering dedication to service would span over three decades, taking him from the disciplined halls of the U.S. Naval Academy to the elite ranks of the Marines, and ultimately to a distinguished 22-year career as an FBI Special Agent. As head of the Cybersecurity Branch at FBI San Francisco, Palmore led one of the nation's largest cybersecurity investigative teams, battling the most insidious criminal and national security adversaries in the digital realm. Following his FBI career, M.K. used his cybersecurity expertise to serve as a strategic advisor for some of the most powerful companies in Silicon Valley.

Today, through Apogee Global RMS, he channels this wealth of experience into developing the next generation of leaders to transform not just individuals but entire organizations. His journey from the front lines of national security to the boardrooms of corporate America demonstrates his relentless pursuit of growth.

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward engages MK Palmore, an expert in cybersecurity and leadership, in a holistic conversation about the nuances of interviewing, the significance of psychological safety, and the impact of people-centered leadership. MK, a former FBI special agent, shares the invaluable lessons he's learned from his diverse career spanning the US Naval Academy, the Marines, Silicon Valley, and his own start-up, Apogee Global RMS.

He reveals the power of strategic silence in eliciting critical information during interviews, his unique approach to fostering team growth and leadership, and how his constant curiosity has been a driving force in his professional journey. Listeners will gain practical insights on improving their questioning techniques, building trust within their teams, public speaking, and leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and learning.

Episode Notes

[00:00 The Secret to Effective Interviewing

01:08 Introduction to Curated Questions

01:29 MK Palmore's Background and Career

03:09 Joining the FBI: Initial Expectations

03:59 The Importance of Interviewing Skills in the FBI

05:08 Military Background and FBI Training

05:55 Diverse Skills Program and Military Influence

09:39 Practical Interview Training at the FBI

15:12 Creating Psychological Safety in Interviews

20:17 Building Trust and Effective Communication

24:26 Developing Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

27:36 Public Speaking: Preparation and Mindset

29:23 Engaging the Audience: Techniques and Strategies

32:57 The Role of Questions in Professional Settings

41:05 Leadership and Cybersecurity

41:28 The Prevalence of AI in Conversations

41:46 Challenges of Leadership in Tech

42:03 The Impact of Poor Leadership

42:44 Leadership Development in Companies

43:15 The Importance of Investing in People

44:19 Conversations with Small to Medium-Sized Organizations

45:17 The Future of AI and Leadership

46:08 AI as a Force Multiplier

46:40 AI in Learning and Development

47:42 Adopting AI in Business Processes

48:51 The Disruption of AI in Various Industries

55:27 Curiosity and Professional Growth

58:52 People-Centered Leadership

01:07:04 The Role of Reflection in Leadership

01:12:00 Final Thoughts and Reflections

01:16:12 Reflections and Insights

Resources Mentioned

Apogee Global RMS

Federal Bureau of Investigation

US Marine Corps

Ocean Vuong

The Daily episode with Ocean Vuong

Malcom Gladwell

Hughes Network Systems

Dwarkesh Patel

Kevin Kelly

MK Palmore on LinkedIn

Leadership Student Newsletter

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Do you know what you were brought in for, or what specialty skills you brought to the table?

What's on the ticket for this week?

What's on the ticket for today?

How many cases do I have?

Were there any particular courses or books that the FBI uses to train the agents?

What did some of that training look like?

What were some of the ways that you kept that even keel?

What are you doing internally to keep your cool?

What set you apart, or why do you think that you were successful?

What is the motivation that you have for leaning into the uncomfortableness?

When did that process and that confidence start?

What are a couple of components or examples of mind talk, or any of your other strategies?

Any thoughts on the question that I just posed?

Do you run through your CV before you give a talk so people know who you are?

Do you just jump right into the topic to make sure that you grab them?

How might you use questions in your preparation for a talk that you're gonna be doing or something that you're pulling together?

What are they here to hear about?

What do they think is going to be presented to them?

What's the pain point that you have around this particular issue?

Any particular questions that you found helpful or lines of thinking with questions that you found helpful in your conversations with folks?

Can you help us figure that thing out?

Is this something that you experience in your own organization?

Who are the cybersecurity folks in the room

Where's all of this going?

What kind of position do we need to be in to protect against stuff that's gonna happen in the future?

Does your technology work?

What examples do you have of it working for other people?

Can it be helpful to me?

What questions are not being asked often enough in the cybersecurity world?

How much of it can we ship?

How much of it can we sell?

How much of it can we make?

What step would you encourage folks to take in understanding that element better?

How has Curiosity played a role in delivering you to where you are today?

Can I learn this?

Can I then take what I've learned and then provide some learning to other people about it?

Do you think curiosity is a skill that you can improve?

What is a nuance that most people miss about people-centered leadership?

What am I going to get done with this group of people that I have here?

How comfortable do you think people feel in their current work environments to have those kinds of very transparent conversations with their bosses?

What's next for me?

What can I do to help you get there?

What roles do questions and inquiry play in that process of leadership development?

I had a rough interaction with someone. What role did I play? Or my baggage or my, positioning in that scenario, what role did I play in that?

Do you go back and review your journals, and what is your process for how you use them?

How do I reconcile my decision to do something really hard with what my reality is on the ground?

What is your right now question?

Have I done enough to go venture off on my own?

Am I prepared?

Have I done enough?

Am I ready to put out my own shingle and do my own thing?

From Cowboy Dreams to Coaching Life Transitions | Tony Kennedy #33

Tony Kennedy, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 29 May 2025 04:05:00 -0000

"What are we going to do afterwards?" - Tony Kennedy

Tony Kennedy began his collegiate football career by earning a Division I scholarship at Virginia Tech (1988-1992). In 1993, Tony signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, fulfilling a childhood dream. Although he finished his professional career in 1994, he has remained active in the collegiate football community by directing and organizing various all-star bowls.

Through the Kennedy Sports Group, Tony represents and mentors athletes as they navigate the complex landscape of representation in collegiate and professional sports. Chief among these complexities is the policy change that allows student-athletes to monetize their personal brand through endorsements of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), while keeping their amateur status.

Additionally, Tony is the Co-Founder and CEO of RXSports.net. This leading CBD company delivers safe and effective solutions for inflammation and pain management to athletes, individuals with arthritis, veterans, and pets.

In this episode, Tony emphasizes the importance of preparing athletes for life after sports, instilling values of financial management, and transitioning into successful careers beyond the field. He also discusses his involvement in sports representation, mentoring young athletes, and leveraging CBD products through his company, RX Sports, to aid in pain management. This comprehensive dialogue highlights the essence of asking the right questions and providing guidance to aspiring athletes at different stages of their careers.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction and Career Advice

[01:04] Host Introduction and Show Purpose

[01:25] Tony Kennedy's Football Journey

[02:47] Transition to Professional Football

[04:05] Experiences with the Dallas Cowboys

[06:32] First Impressions and Rookie Challenges

[08:42] Memorable Moments and Regrets

[11:59] Lessons from the NFL

[15:00] Mentoring Young Athletes

[17:27] Guiding Athletes Beyond Sports

[18:36] Successful Transitions Post-Sports

[20:10] Kennedy Sports Group Philosophy

[20:35] Heartfelt Representation and Jerry Maguire

[22:32] Overcoming Jealousy in Sports

[23:47] Dealing with Career Transitions

[25:35] Finding Confidence After Sports

[27:29] Advice for New Athletes

[28:24] The Reality of Professional Sports

[29:25] Starting a New Career Path

[29:43] Financial Planning for Athletes

[30:51] Defining Success Beyond Wealth

[31:56] The Importance of Leaving a Legacy

[32:29] Mentorship and Vision

[33:54] The Crab Bowl: A State All-Star Game

[35:01] RX Sports: Pain Management Solutions

[39:09] Final Thoughts and Reflections

[40:36] Summary and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Kennedy Sports Group

RXSports.net

Dallas Cowboys

Washington Commanders

Student Athlete Compensation NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness)

Maryland Crab Bowl

Harriet Tubman Museum

Under Armour

Cannabidiol (CBD)

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Were there any particular questions that kind of shaped that journey for you or might have been impactful for you during those, various pivots or phases?

What happens here?

What happens there?

What are we supposed to do when you are supposed to go from fifth round to whenever?

What am I supposed to do?

How are we supposed to act?

What time we supposed to be here?

Where do we live?

What was that moment like for you?

Why me?

Why this time?

Why did I go to one of their best teams in history, as far as how deep they were, the players?

Were you in the headspace to even have that conversation?

What are we going to do afterwards?

What kind of questions are you using with these athletes as they're coming up?

Can they run on the field?

What questions might you be using to position yourself so that you are caring first and foremost for the athlete with the right mindset?

Why am I doing this?

Why am I waking up?

Why am I calling this many people?

Why am I here?

Are you really happy for that person?

Are you jealous that he made it?

How did you work through that jealousy?

Was it an issue for you?

How did you get to that level of confidence?

What might be some questions that you think athletes should be asking, whether this is early on or later on in a career?

What do I wanna do?

What is success?

When you leave this earth, did they name a park after you? Did they name a school? Did they name a ward after you?

How many people did you touch when you were here?

Were there any mentors or coaches that used any particular questions with you that have stuck with you over the years or those are, might have been pivotal moments?

Was there any particular questions that you used in evaluating these different opportunities?

What do you see as the opportunity for folks with RX Sports?

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragement about questions that we haven't necessarily explored?

Who do you hang with?

How can you apply the "What are we going to do afterwards?" question to a milestone in your life?

What basic "Why" questions would it be helpful to revisit?

What unresolved personal disappointments are sabotaging your service to others?

Why Curiosity Converts Better Than Commission | Patrick Dubois #32

Patrick Dubois, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 22 May 2025 05:09:08 -0000

"We want to learn from our mistakes. And remember, it's a miss-take, so we can do it again." - Patrick Dubois

Patrick Dubois has over 30 years of experience in corporate sales and leadership for the veterinary and pet spaces. In 2024, he launched his own consultancy, Sales Growth Today, as a conduit to share his expertise through coaching, seminars, workshops, and strength assessments.

He specializes in optimizing sales strategies with a three-step plan that is quantifiable, actionable, and achievable. In July 2024, he and his wife realized a 30-year dream with the formal opening of Stellar Ridge Vineyard in New Castle, California, and quickly received a score of 92 from wine enthusiasts on their 2023 GSM Rose.

Patrick Dubois, a seasoned sales professional discusses the power of questions in sales and personal growth. Patrick emphasizes the importance of understanding the real reasons behind lost sales and how genuine curiosity can enhance relationships and build trust. He shares his journey from aspiring veterinarian to corporate sales and the transformative impact of knowing one's strengths and values. The conversation also explores the intersections of Patrick's passions for animals, wine, and coaching, providing deep insights into aligning one's career with personal strengths and authentic self-expression.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Understanding the Real Reason Behind Lost Sales

[01:00] Introduction to Curated Questions

[01:37] Meet Patrick Dubois

[02:41] The Power of Questions in Sales

[06:18] Patrick's Journey into Sales

[07:34] Early Sales Experiences and Challenges

[09:33] Transition from Veterinary Aspirations to Sales

[14:02] Lessons Learned in Sales

[19:26] The Importance of Curiosity in Sales

[23:18] Misconceptions About Sales

[26:13] Sales Techniques and Strategies

[40:18] The Role of Questions in Sales

[46:16] Embracing Your Strengths

[48:27] Understanding the Buyer's Perspective

[50:13] Handling Rejections with Curiosity

[52:02] The Importance of Matching Energy

[54:50] Using Self-Deprecating Humor

[58:25] Identifying and Embracing Your Values

[01:09:44] The Role of Therapy in Self-Discovery

[01:15:48] Balancing Multiple Passions

[01:19:28] Navigating Business Challenges

[01:23:26] The Power of Communication in Teams

[01:26:19] Engaging with Patrick

[01:28:04] Key Takeaways from the Conversation

[01:28:16] Questions as Relationship Currency

[01:28:58] The Power of Self-Discovery

Resources Mentioned

Sales Growth Today

Stellar Ridge Vineyard

Whose Line is it Anyway

Sales Growth Today - Resources

QBQ, The Question Behind The Question

Dr. Kelly Starrett at The Ready State

Patrick Dubois at LinkedIn

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What was the foundation for you to be able to succeed doing that?

Are you sure?

Where did you get some of your early sales training?

How did you develop some of your own technique as you went through your career?

What was one of those factors or the situation that drove you off that primary track?

Hey, you're in the animal world, you know, what is it like being a rep, and what are the challenges?

What were some of those early lessons that you learned as you were earning your stripes as a salesperson without all the training?

Was curiosity your primary asset that you carried with you to each of those conversations?

What are they really good at?

Is this still a good time for us to talk?

What kinds of questions do we ask right now?

What's that customer going through right now that I need to find out what that is?

What do you think that most folks might misunderstand about sales?

What is not sales?

Can I ask you questions about what you need?

Would you like to buy my product or my services?

Why should I give you my business?

Are there any particular resources that you would point somebody that's new starting up?

What are things that I do well that I don't know about, or that I should know about?

Why did you ask that question?

What does it do?

How does it do it?

What questions do you think are underutilized?

What are some of the major challenges that this owner is facing?

What would you want the rep to ask you?

How can questions help identify and remove barriers?

Is there a better time today, or is there a better time next week?

How do I be more likable?

What was it exactly that prevented you from buying from me, or using my product, or my services?

What is your turn rate on that bottle?

What has your profitability been so far?

What's one or two of those good questions that you're able to turn things around with?

Does he want a pen?

How can we make that a little bit easier?

What does that conversation look like at that point?

Where can we come to visit?

Where can we find your wine?

What is your right now question?

Is this gonna work?

How's this going to go?

How's this going to go for the year?

Kevin Kelly: The Future Belongs to the Question-Makers | Kevin Kelly #31

Kevin Kelly, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 08 May 2025 04:18:22 -0000

"In any vibrant, ongoing discipline, questioning has to be at the heart of it, or there's no growth." - Kevin Kelly

Kevin Kelly is one of the most original voices in technology and culture. Kevin's career is a journey through the heart of innovation. He helped launch Wired magazine, shaping our understanding of the digital revolution. Before that, he edited the Whole Earth Review, spotlighting trends like virtual reality and online communities before they entered the mainstream.

He co-founded The WELL, one of the earliest online communities, and the Hackers Conference, which brings together the brightest minds in the tech industry. His books, including What Technology Wants and The Inevitable, challenge us to view technology as a living system, one that evolves alongside us, shaping our lives and choices.

Through his Cool Tools Project, Kevin champions practical tools that empower individuals while his work with the Long Now Foundation pushes us to think on a grander, multi-generational scale, like a 10,000-year kind of scale, whether chronicling disappearing cultures in Asia or exploring the emotional bonds we form with machines. Kevin brings relentless curiosity and optimism to every subject.

In this episode, Kevin shares his insights on the power of questioning for personal and societal growth, discussing the role of questions in driving innovation and fostering understanding. He emphasizes the importance of inefficiency and exploration in formulating impactful questions, contrasting this with AI's tendency to provide average answers. Kelly also discusses his long-term projects, such as the 10,000-year clock with the Long Now Foundation, emphasizing the importance of long-term thinking and striking a balance between stability and adaptability. The discussion highlights the value of embracing disequilibrium for intellectual and technological advancement and challenges the notion of productivity by suggesting that waste and failure are integral to the discovery process.

Episode Notes

00:00 The Importance of Questioning

01:21 Introduction to Curated Questions

02:20 Meet Kevin Kelly

03:56 Kevin Kelly's Mentor: Stewart Brand

05:33 The Role of Questions in Intellectual Traditions

06:47 Disequilibrium and Growth

10:21 Embodied Questions and Exploration

11:11 Balancing Exploration and Exploitation

11:50 The Inefficiency of Questioning

15:53 The Abundance Mindset

18:39 The Inevitable and Quality Questions

19:26 Hill Climbing vs. Hill Making

22:28 The Challenge of Innovation

24:13 The Beauty of Engineering and Innovation

24:34 Navigating the Frontier of New Technologies

25:33 The Role of AI in Question Formulation

26:43 Challenges in Advancing AI Capabilities

29:11 The Long Now Foundation and the 10,000 Year Clock

29:56 Transmitting Values Over Time

31:03 Ethics in AI and Self-Driving Cars

33:26 The Art of Questioning

34:04 Photography: Capturing vs. Creating

36:12 The Inefficiency of Exploration

38:36 Daily Practice and Long-Term Success

40:17 The Importance of Quantity for Quality

43:22 Final Thoughts and Encouragement on Questioning

46:24 Summary Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

What Technology Wants by Kevin Kelly

The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly

Kevin2Kelly on Instagram

Recomendo Newsletter

Excellent Advice for Living

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Intentionally Cracking Love's Enigma Through Analytics | Tim Molnar #30

Tim Molnar, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:10:00 -0000

"The better question is, how am I feeling in my body at the end of or during this date? Do I feel safe? Do I feel seen? Am I energized?" - Tim Molnar

Tim Molnar isn't your typical dating coach—he's a fascinating blend of academic researcher and practical relationship strategist who's transformed how we think about finding love.

As a former Fulbright fellow with both a J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Tim brings analytical precision to the often chaotic world of modern dating. But what sets him apart is how he turned his own dating struggles into a systematic approach that works. After documenting his journey through 47 first dates and meticulously tracking what did and didn't work, Tim discovered patterns that became the foundation for his book, Date Smarter: A Strategic Guide for Navigating Modern Romance.

What I find most compelling about Tim's work is his emphasis on asking better questions—both of ourselves and potential partners, to create more meaningful connections. He challenges us to move beyond superficial interactions and app-swiping fatigue toward intentional relationship-building.

I met Tim at a recent conference and learned of his new book. I was in the dating game in the last millennium, and a lot has changed.

Today, we'll explore the art and science of questioning in dating—how the right questions at the right time can reveal compatibility, build intimacy, and ultimately lead to more fulfilling relationships.

In this episode, Tim shares how he developed his strategic dating framework by applying research principles to dating, emphasizing the importance of asking better questions about ourselves and potential partners. He explores how traditional metrics like "feeling a spark" can be misleading compared to questions about safety, visibility, and energy levels after being with someone. The conversation highlights how self-awareness, intentional action, and thoughtful questioning can increase the probability of building fulfilling relationships while also creating space for continued growth and evolution within partnerships.

Episode Notes

[00:00]The Misleading Spark in Dating

[00:47] Introduction to Curated Questions

[01:35] Meet Tim Molnar: The Dating Strategist

[02:21] The Power of Asking Better Questions

[06:06] The Analytical Approach to Dating

[08:34] Reverse Engineering Love

[13:35] Picking A Date Number

[15:40] Self-Awareness in Dating

[18:12] Emotional Rewards and Protections

[22:58] A Predictor of Long-Term Happiness

[30:30] Healthy Relationships and Happiness

[32:11] The Role of Dating Apps

[35:48] Evaluating Potential Partners

[38:03] Designing a Dating Process

[39:25] Proactive Dating Strategies

[40:32] Creating Rigid Implementation Intentions

[41:40] Building Confidence Through Tracking Progress

[43:05] The Role of Accountability in Taking Action

[45:09] Handling Disappointment and Rejection in Dating

[46:48] Understanding Ghosting and Its Implications

[47:51] The Impact of Digital Communication on Empathy

[48:53] Questions to Ask When Facing Rejection

[53:28] The Role of AI in Modern Dating

[54:17] Ineffective Questions in the Dating World

[01:00:25] Probing Questions to Reveal Deal Breakers

[01:02:37] Navigating Long-Term Relationship Changes

[01:03:49] Creating Space for Relationship Growth

[01:05:55] Balancing Self-Development and Dating

[01:11:32] The Importance of Growth Mindset in Relationships

[01:13:23] Hunting Field Mice or Antelope

[01:20:42] Final Thoughts and Encouragement

[01:23:07] Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned

Date Smarter: A Strategic Guide for Navigating Modern Romance by Tim Molnar

Debbie Millman

John and Julie Gottman

Love Lab

Harvard Study of Adult Development

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Would you like a cookie?

Can we please have a cookie today?

Why the switch going from all things lawyer like over to this new world?

Can you just give some background on what that looked like?

How does that academic background influence your questions about dating?

How might someone without research training develop similar analytical skills?

How can I meet someone who's gonna be a great life partner for myself?

What does my perfect day look like five years from now?

What was I eating for breakfast?

Where did I wake up?

Who did I wake up next to?

What type of books was I reading?

What was my physical health like, my emotional health, my social health?

Was I traveling?

Was I active?

What was I doing for work?

What did my finances look like?

Is there a way to reverse engineer that?

Has there been research done on this?

Would you be interested in going on a date with me?

Can I have a light for my cigarette?

Can I have directions?

Would you like to go grab a coffee, go for a walk, or grab some dinner?

What are those dating roadblocks?

Have I been getting outside of the house?

How does self-awareness inform one's approach to dating?

What do you really want out of this?

What do I actually need to get over just this next hurdle?

What are the lowest-friction actions that we can take?

What are some questions you work through with clients to help understand that?

What emotional rewards, maybe even protections, did you learn to seek in your earliest relationships?

How did I try to seek emotional reward?

Was it every time I cleaned up my room?

What kind of emotional protections did you need to develop?

If you didn't do those, were there consequences?

How do those inform what you're searching for in your current dating life?

What am I trying to optimize for?

Are there certain things that I've been trying to optimize for that are actually standing in the way of a healthy relationship?

Was that healthy?

What worked about it?

What was right and loving and just, and then what perhaps may be a little off?

How do you think about balancing that out, the feelings versus other metrics,

Was there a spark here?

Is there chemistry?

How am I feeling in my body at the end of this date or during this date? Do I feel safe? Do I feel seen? Am I energized?

Is this someone that I can make hard decisions with?

When one of my parents, who's dealing with dementia, needs to make some difficult decisions around end-of-life care, is this someone I can do that with in a productive fashion?

How does that connect with the analytical piece?

Does this person make me feel like I'm on a rollercoaster?

Is this person six feet?

Does this person make a hundred thousand dollars?

What types of questions can we be asking ourselves to suss these out earlier in the process?

How important this is to you?

When would we have met one another?

How do you get a hundred thousand swipes?

How does this person treat someone who they have nothing to gain or who they gain from?

How is this person going to show up in three months or three years when things get difficult?

How do I find my person?

How do I design a dating process that reflects my values, protects my energy, and increases my odds?

How do you proactively move that work outside of the home to some third space?

How can you be the catalyst and the change maker to really galvanize that change?

What is the behavior, when am I going to do this, and here is it going to happen?

How can I improve my chances of taking action towards those steps that I've identified as being helpful for getting me to where I want to go?

How do we encourage ourselves to get up at six in the morning and keep with our Monday, Wednesday, Friday gym schedule?

How should they think about going forward?

How do you work through that?

What's a good way to navigate that moment?

Can you tell grandma I'm not coming?

What kind of questions can we ask ourselves to remind us that what is playing out is very often not about us?

What could be going on here?

How do I say this in a way that's tactful yet honest?

What ineffective questions continue to be asked in the dating world?

What religion are you?

Do you do drugs?

Are you addicted to meth, or do the occasional edible while you're out on a camping trip?

What does that look like for you?

What are your definitions?

What are your traditions?

Was this date at least a six out of 10?

Am I willing to do this again?

What role does surprise play in the dating relationship?

What did you have here?

What deeper probing questions might reveal these potential deal breakers earlier on?

How can we investigate that?

Is this someone who could be a good partner?

Is that really what you're trying to optimize for, or can you ask thoughtful questions to determine your true values?

What am I really wanting?

How should one think about the longer term?

Are there things that we should think about in these earlier days that might help us in later years?

What kinds of questions can we ask on a day-to-day basis, or even week-to-week, month-to-month basis, to have that check-in that doesn't require three or five days?

What's been on your mind lately that we haven't talked about?

Not how much growth do you need to do before you're going to be ready to date, but who is the person that's going to help you grow, and who you're going to be able to help grow?

Have you checked out where the local courts are?

Are they looking for you to never change?

Are you gonna be able to embrace change for your partner, is your partner gonna embrace it for you, and what does that look like?

What does it look like to have some of those conversations?

What questions do you personally carry and revisit?

Am I hunting field mice or am I hunting antelope?

Am I spinning my wheels doing things that give me that false feeling of productivity, but aren't likely to hit in a bigger way?

Are you listening to anything good?

Do you want me to go on ahead, or do you wanna go ahead, or do you wanna keep chatting

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragement about questions that we haven't touched on yet?

Where's the best place for folks to track you down and see what you're excited about and understand all that you've got going on?

Cultivating Transformational Growth Through Questions | Dave Reynolds #29

Dave Reynolds, Rumin8 Group, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 04:05:00 -0000

"We don't want it to be transactional. We want it to be transformational." - Dave Reynolds

Dave Reynolds is a serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of the Rumin8 Group in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Rumin8 is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs scale small and medium-sized organizations through executive coaching, performance management tools, organizational design, and learning & development frameworks. With a background in sales leadership, performance management, and succession planning, Dave is passionate about growth acceleration and how asking the right questions yields the best answers.

This passion has now been brought to the page with the release of Radicle Growth: Transform into an Unstoppable Leader Through Mastering the Art of Questions. Dave introduces a leadership approach emphasizing purposeful questions and meaningful conversation to create a supportive, accountable environment for the leader and their team.

When I learned about Dave's leadership approach and emphasis on questions, I knew I wanted to have this conversation and bring his insights to this community.

In this episode of 'Curated Questions,' host Ken Woodward talks with Dave Reynolds, CEO of the Rumin8 Group, about the impact of purposeful questioning in leadership and coaching. Reynolds shares his journey of learning the value of questions through his mentor Pablo, emphasizing transformation over transactional leadership. They discuss the importance of preparing for coaching conversations, asking in-depth questions, and fostering a culture of coaching and accountability in organizations.

Reynolds also introduces concepts from his new book "Radicle Growth," which focuses on using questions to drive personal and organizational growth. The episode highlights the need for leaders to go beyond surface-level interactions, commit to ongoing development, and engage more deeply with their teams through strategic questioning.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction to Winning Behaviors

[00:33] Welcome to Curated Questions

[01:07] Meet Dave Reynolds

[02:20] Dave's Leadership Journey

[02:44] The Influence of Pablo

[03:53] Pablo's Leadership Style

[05:04] Learning from Pablo

[06:44] Dave's Growth and Development

[14:48] Rumin8 and Its Mission

[15:09] Strategic Use of Questions

[19:32] Discovery Phase in Consulting

[23:25] Implementing Coaching Culture

[27:36] The Art and Science of Questions

[28:16] Radicle Growth Explained

[38:06] Formal and Informal Coaching

[46:11] The Power of Specific Feedback

[47:38] Balancing Emotional and Logical Responses

[48:47] Choosing the Right Medium for Communication

[50:20] The Importance of One-to-One Coaching

[50:29] Fostering Genuine Curiosity in Coaching

[51:40] Going Beyond Surface-Level Questions

[55:28] Proactive Coaching Preparation

[57:23] Setting Expectations for Coachees

[57:50] Holding Coachees Accountable

[01:00:55] The Impact of Intensity in Coaching

[01:01:46] Underutilized Questions in Coaching

[01:05:03] The Value of Strengths and Opportunities

[01:09:00] The Fish Under the Table

[01:11:19] The Role of Questions in Leadership

[01:17:54] Final Thoughts and Encouragement

[01:21:42] Final Observations and Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Rumin8 Group

Radicle Growth: Transform Into an Unstoppable Leader Through Mastering The Art of Questions

Pablo Battaro

Damon Jones

Susan Scott of Fierce Conversations

Dave Reynolds on LinkedIn

Rumin8 Group on Instagram

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

How did Pablo give you the space for the deep self-reflection that you mentioned?

Do you have any idea where or how he developed that?

Do you know any of that backstory to how he fell in love with questions?

And what else?

What do you think Pablo saw in you that you didn't?

Did he have that kind of overt conversation with you, or was he just pulling you along through the process?

Who's taking your replacement?

Have you mentored them to perform at the same level you have?

What did that look like for you, going through that almost apprenticeship, if you will, in learning?

What are we focusing on?

What are we going after?

What was the most important thing we talked about?

What was the commitment we made from the call?

What should we be following up on?

How are you doing?

How's your family?

How are the kids?

How long were you with the organization and working in that relationship with Pablo?

How are you using questions strategically at Rumin8?

How do I wanna start putting this together?

Do they know what their next role is?

Is it clear?

Do they have a plan?

Is there a support?

How is it that you choose the questions that you choose?

What is your process for really understanding and getting to the most powerful questions that you can?

What does the current coaching culture look like?

How often are coaching conversations happening?

Is there a specific KPI that they're talking about?

How are people measuring success?

What didn't we know before we started that we know now?

Why is that data important to the objective that we want to accomplish?

How do we do something long-lasting and long-term?

Do you have a set of questions that you always go in with?

Do you find that that's the case?

How are the people connected to the process?

How is process connected to performance?

How is performance connected to the product?

How have you seen that change the organizations?

What do those changes look like?

How do we get to that same destination by asking a question versus telling them what they need to do?

Why do you think they put that sign up?

What do you think is happening right now with the dynamic with your team?

What part of what you're doing is feeding the ducks?

how can we stop feeding the ducks and getting them to feed on their own?

How do we reframe some of those questions so they're problem solving independently?

How do we get them to be more proactive on how they're approaching scenarios?

How do they, we get them to come with a solution versus ask for a solution?

Where does a seed grow?

Is it growing under the surface?

How do you help them work through the shift?

How has that conversation gone?

How does the conversation go in helping a organization go from whatever they've been doing historically to really this being a part of the part of the culture?

How many times are you coaching in between to influence the next time you come to the next formal?

Are you coaching on the fly?

Where do you think we could have improved with this section of the call?

What's another phrase or what's another area that we could have tapped into?

In between those two formal coachings, how often do they get off the line or off the road?

When are we correcting them to kind of stay back on there and stay focused?

How do we coach and develop informal coaching as a culture and as a system?

How do we improve the forum on whether we are doing the right cadence?

What would be the characteristics of that individual who chooses to walk the floor?

Is that an introvert or extrovert thing?

What are some of the files we're working on?

What ones you're most excited about?

How's the progress going?

Is there anything that you've taken away from this file that has changed your perspective on how we should approach the strategy?

Am I leaning into the uncomfortable conversations that I know I must have just on a daily basis?

How many times have I been uncomfortable this week?

What's the value of having the conversation?

What's the fear about having the conversation?

Why didn't you tell me last week?

Why couldn't we have had this conversation last week?

What's the most important conversation you should be having right now?

When did you realize that you should be having that conversation?

How's that conversation gone?

How is the person gonna react now that there's this much delay?

How's this gonna impact them?

How do we want to have the conversation?

How do we not make it reactive?

How do we get them to own the conversation, own the next steps?

Is that an emotional response or is that a logical response?

How does that sound?

Is this something we should pick up the phone and have that conversation?

How do we really curate the right conversations in the right environment with the right amount of timing in a logical sense?

How does a coach move past boilerplate questions and foster genuine curiosity in the coaching relationship?

How can you do that intentionally to really foster the curiosity such that those follow up questions are genuine?

How are sales?

Where are you at for the month?

What was the goal you set?

What are you trending for the month?

How do we get deeper into the actual conversation?

Did we get ownership over the conversation?

Do we increase the value in the relationship?

Do we have a plan?

What is often elusive in a coaching relationship?

What do you expect your coachee to come prepared for the session?

Is the coach willing to hold the coachee accountable for not doing that?

Where are you at in this relationship?

Where are they thinking right now about their growth strategy?

What questions do you think might be underutilized, whether it's this particular question or a group of questions?

How do you measure success?

Why is that important and how often are you measuring it?

And are you successful right now?

What's the one thing that you're not doing that if you were doing, you would see more growth and progress?

Why are we avoiding it?

What's the challenge?

How do we make it consistent?

What's the one behavior that you do on a regular basis that is the highest level of ROI?

What's the thing you do that gives you the most growth?

What does winning the day look like?

Where are you bringing the most value?

What is your secret sauce that you bring to the table?

How are we positioning ourselves to unleash that every day, such that the world has a better place as a result of us showing up with this talent and skill?

What kind of questions do you carry with you and revisit that are just a part of who you are?

What are your biggest strengths and why?

How did you get strong in that area?

How are you evaluating your strengths?

how are you utilizing your strength?

It's not a matter of how can I make my weakness, my strength?

How do I improve my strengths, and how can I optimize it more?

How many people have you shared that strength with that could learn from you in that particular category? '

What do you see as your biggest opportunity for growth right now?

If you were coaching yourself, what feedback would you give on your biggest gap or your biggest opportunity?

Why is that such an important opportunity for you?

How would that help you?

What would be the impact on your career?

Why is coaching important in your role?

Why is it important to you?

Who benefits from you being a better coach?

If you were to master that skill, how would that help you within this organization or beyond?

What's a conversation that you're not having that you should be having and with who?

How did the conversation go?

How quickly can you get the fish on the table and have that conversation?

How do you want to approach that relationship?

Do you have a system that holds you accountable for having that conversation?

How am I leading today?

How could I lead differently through Radicle Growth approach?

Do I have the right follow-up systems?

How can I ask a question?

How can I turn this into a question?

How can I lead with questions versus telling people what they need to do?

How do I influence my teams or the people I work with from being dependent to more independent?

What is your right now question or questions?

How do I add the most value to every interaction that I have this year, this day, this week, this month?

Where am I adding value?

How am I adding value?

How is value being perceived?

Do I feel like I added value to everybody they interacted with today?

Where could I have added more value?

Did they perceive that as valuable?

How do you mirror as a strategy?

How do you paraphrase?

From Lightning's Wrath to Neuro Resilience | Lisa Wimberger #28

Lisa Wimberger, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:10:04 -0000

"When you mix curiosity with the urgency of imminent death, you get power you never knew you had." - Lisa Wimberger

To understand Lisa's story, we must first acknowledge that humans have three primary options in moments of stress or fear: fight, flee, or freeze. Lisa is predisposed to the freeze response. Hit by lightning on her 15th birthday, clinically flatlined on multiple occasions, non-epileptic seizures became routine, and recovery was debilitating. With no known treatments, doctors encouraged hydration and stress management.

Determined to find healing, Lisa fused brain science and a life-long mindfulness practice to develop the Neurosculpting® modality that engages both sides of the brain to provide practitioners a platform for efficacy and healing. Heavy on science and results, Lisa has taught corporate leaders, law enforcement, and first responders nationwide the tools of emotional regulation. She uses her traumatic experiences as a vehicle for healing and transformation.

Lisa holds a Master's Degree in Education, a Foundations Certification in NeuroLeadership, and Certificates in Medical Neuroscience, Visual Perception, Brain, and Neurobiology. She is an author, coach, sought-after speaker, and entrepreneur who runs multiple companies.

I first discovered Lisa's work through her @neurosculpting Instagram posts, where she provides brain challenges to over 300K followers. While simple concepts, execution proves challenging, but that is precisely the point ~ challenge your brain for resilience and grow new pathways.

In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward converses with Lisa Wimberger about the transformative power of curiosity and the practice of Neurosculpting. Lisa shares her harrowing experiences of being hit by lightning and suffering from non-epileptic seizures, which led her to develop a unique healing modality by combining brain science and mindfulness. Through this dialogue, Lisa explains how asking the right questions can lead to profound personal growth and healing, providing practical insights into emotional regulation and neuroplasticity. Listeners also gain a deeper understanding of how Lisa has utilized her experiences to help corporate leaders, law enforcement, and first responders improve their mental resilience.

Episode Notes

[01:13] Meet Lisa Wimberger: A Story of Resilience

[06:22] The Lightning Strike Incident

[08:34] Living with Seizures: A Hidden Struggle

[11:01] The Turning Point: Embracing Inquiry

[16:52] Discovering Neurosculpting

[19:19] The Power of Neuroplasticity

[21:37] Creating the Five-Step Process

[24:05] Implementing the Protocol

[28:30] Refining Meditation with Neuroscience

[34:25] Dangers of Meditation for Dissociative Nervous Systems

[36:16] Understanding the Freeze Response

[39:36] Predisposition to Freeze and Early Trauma

[41:47] Personal Trauma and Resilience

[44:08] The Power of the Nervous System

[48:16] Balancing Modern Inputs with Nervous System Health

[51:29] Working with Police and First Responders

[55:56] The Role of Questions in Healing

[01:00:49] Living with Courage and Purpose

[01:04:20] Final Thoughts and Encouragement

[01:07:26] Episode Reflections and Summary

Resources Mentioned

New Beliefs, New Brain by Lisa Wimberger

Neuroplasticity

Dr. Michael Merzenich

Neurosculpting.com

Neurosculpting on Instagram

NeuroPraxis on Apple Podcast

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Arthur C Brooks

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What would it be like if we could go?

What kind of questions were with you between that lightning strike and neurosculpting?

What is going on with me?

Something's wrong with me; what could that be?

How could I get more in touch with well-being?

Everyone else seemed to not care at all, so why should I?

What was your process for really diving into the questions that got you to the pathway of, as you say, your destiny, your purpose?

What if it isn't normal to have these kinds of seizures where I need to be resuscitated?

Where can I find out more?

What can I learn in order to intervene here?

What resources do I already have that could support a practice that could move me in the direction neuroplasticity says I can go?

How can I adapt them and fill in the gaps they're missing so that I'm using sound neuroscience principles to position my nervous system so that I can rewire it towards healing?

What could my body do differently?

What does this wanna do in the world now?

What does Neurosculpting need in order for it to get to more people?

What is missing from it?

How do I recruit the prefrontal cortex activation?

What is the percentage of the population that fall into that category that traditional meditation may be less helpful because they fit into this category?

Who are you going to rush to help?

How much can this be learned or amplified based on the environment or conditioning that occurs beyond mere predisposition?

What makes you predispositioned?

How do you use questions to help folks adopt these new modalities outside of the mainstream?

How do I get this to the people who need it?

Would you like to get into that nervous system and find a little bit more resilience?

Are you a human?

Do you have a nervous system?

How does this most effectively serve the police force?

Where does that really resonate with them?

Just because it was true, then, is it true now?

How might questions be used for healing or interrupting the stories that we tell ourselves?

What do you do to relationships when you're not present to what they are now and you keep referencing 10 years ago?

What do you do when a new neighbor moves in and they look just like "that kind of person," and you have no present time experience with that human?

What questions are you currently wrestling with or working through?

How can I show up more to be a catalyst for harmonious human community and growth and connectivity?

How can I do that?

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragement about questions that we didn't cover that came to mind as we prepared for this conversation?

Where is the best place for folks to engage with you and find out what you're excited about?

How can you inspire this same sense of urgency to encounter this unique power for the challenges in your life?

What areas require a pattern interrupt in your life?

What are the right questions to ask to cause it?

What untapped resources are available to you to solve existing problems?

A Fork, A Precipice, A Decision | Ken Woodward #27

Derek Sivers, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:30:40 -0000

Host Ken Woodward shares a personal and professional dilemma faced upon receiving an unexpected resignation offer from his government employer. Reflecting on extensive conversations and internal contemplation, Ken explores the strengths and vulnerabilities of his situation.

Highlighting the obstacles and emotional turmoil faced while deciding to stay the course or resign, Ken raises numerous thought-provoking questions and discusses the considerations influencing his final decision. Through analyzing the risks and rewards, Ken aims to inspire others to leverage questioning for personal growth and decision-making even in uncertain times.

Episode Notes

[01:14] Unexpected Email from Employer

[05:49] The Deferred Resignation Program

[06:34] Initial Reactions and Concerns

[08:01] Evaluating the Offer

[08:21] Enhanced Standards of Conduct

[08:55] Personal Reflections and Concerns

[12:21] Seeking Advice and Making a Decision

[13:01] Option One: Do Not Resign

[14:56] Option Two: Resign

[16:44] Insights from Conversations

[21:30] Making The Decision

[23:51] Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Resources Mentioned

Sebastian Junger

The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson

Brian Fretwell at Finding Good

Chad Littlefield

The Thought Leaders Practice by Matt Church

Simon Cowell

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

Is it legitimate, and can it be trusted?

How are you feeling?

What questions come to your mind?

Where does your mind go?

Are you seeking safety?

Would this have been an adrenaline rush as you raced to send the resignation response?

What an "enhanced standard" regarding loyalty and trustworthiness was?

What are these new "enhanced standards?"

Are they beyond what my Constitutional oath requires?

If I don't resign, how bright will the target on my back glow?

My leadership has supported all my work, but would termination direction come from higher up the chain of command?

What would you recommend if we talked over coffee?

What questions would you ask?

How would you use listening?

How would you use silence?

How is this scenario playing out in your mind and body?

What is coming to the surface for you?

How might that influence what you are about to say to me?

What are the chances of my name popping on a list and getting fired?

How about the chances of being part of an official Reduction in Force and early retirement?

Would the administration make a better offer?

What do I know about the pending job market?

What did I expect the workplace to be like and did I want to be there as the contractions took place?

Will the administration pay me through the end of September or will they renege?

Can I sufficiently build the Curated Questions business to transition by 1 October? -

Do I have the faith or confidence to step into this future as a sole practitioner and grow Curated Questions into all I envisioned?

Was this purpose calling?

What would I expect the job market to look like at the end of summer if I hadn't developed the income streams to maintain our lifestyle?

What is your recommendation?

Did it change from your initial recommendation?

Where in your body are you feeling the uncertainty?

Are you processing this scenario in parallel with your decision as if you had received the email?

What additional questions should I have considered?

Who else should I have consulted with?

How would you have changed my risk rating?

What is the correct length of the pregnant pause before making an important announcement?

What processes would you use in my circumstance, and what would be different?

What questions are at the top of your list to get to a decision?

Who would be the members of your pantheon you would counsel with to gain clarity?

Apart from the heady analysis, what other key practices would you include in your journey through a similar situation?

The Catalyst for Collaborative Conversations | Chad Littlefield #26

Chad Littlefield, weand.me, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:32:33 -0000

"Pay attention in conversations and to the questions that you ask because they can have a profound effect on people." - Chad Littlefield

Chad Littlefield is the co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of We and Me (www.weand.me). The organization aims to help leaders, educators, and events make connection easy. His successful 2015 Kickstarter for We! Connect Cards: Create Conversations that Matter, which is comprised of cards with questions on the front and a stretch on the back intended to make conversations fun and meaningful. Forbes calls Chad a “global expert on asking questions that build trust and connection in teams.” He is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and creator of Connection Toolkit™, which is now being used to create conversations that matter on campuses and companies in over 80 countries worldwide.

Chad and his late partner Will Wise launched their books How to Make Virtual Engagement Easy and Ask Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that Matter, both #1 Amazon Bestsellers. Chad's YouTube channel has over a million views, and he hosts the annual Connectors Summit in December to bring people together to hone their skills and meet like-minded people leading the vital work of connecting. He lives and delivers the enthusiasm you expect for someone trying to change the world through intentional connection.

The conversation delves into the transformative power of asking meaningful questions and building connections. Chad shares his journey of discovering the impact of questions, We Connect Cards' origin, and intention's role in effective questioning. The discussions also explore practical strategies for fostering deep connections and the societal impact of genuine curiosity. Full of insights and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in enhancing their communicative skills and fostering stronger relationships.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction to Curated Questions

[01:05] Meet Chad Littlefield

[02:57] Chad's Journey with Questions

[05:14] The Impact of Powerful Questions

[05:40] World in Conversation

[08:22] The Essence of Connection

[11:31] The Role of Intention in Questions

[12:16] Chad's Origin Story

[20:17] The Power of Conversations

[25:50] Intentional Connections

[38:55] The Power of Clear Intentions

[39:42] Genuine Curiosity in Networking

[40:22] Exercises for Building Connections

[41:35] Responding to Spam with Value

[47:18] The Magic of a Second Question

[49:08] Creating Connection Tools

[53:03] The Right Now Question

[57:33] The Connector Summit Experiment

[01:02:21] Social Accountability Through Questions

[01:02:40] Final Thoughts and Encouragements

Resources Mentioned

www.weand.me

Connection Toolkit™

Will Wise

How to Make Virtual Engagement Easy

Ask Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that Matter

Chad Littlefield YouTube Channel

Connectors Summit

World in Conversation

Patch Adams Movie with Robin Williams

TEDx Talk by Chad Littlefield

Peter Block: Connection Before Content

Simon Sinek

Mark Levy

University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute

Derek Sivers

Seth Godin

Nikki Giovanni

Eric Tyler High School Teacher

Blake LaGrange

Mastering.com

This is Strategy

Kim (Chad's Chief of Staff)

Chad Littlefield (The Other One)

Chris Kyle

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Are you ready for your life to change?

How did it impact the other students?

Who is this guy?

What is life teaching you right now?

Are you doing this out of social obligation or do you actually care?

Are you interested?

Is your intent other-centric as opposed to me-centric?

Where do you trace your roots back to some variation of what you'd consider connection?

How did you get into this business or this world?

Where would I be at?

Was that Hollywood or can connection actually heal people in some way and mend relationships, even extending to physical ailments?

How much do you charge to speak?

How did Will view questions?

Did he have any unique perspectives on questions or how they might be used, or how he used them?

What do I do?

What's going on right now for you?

What is something you would like to do more of

In my future, is this possible?

Are you looking at your schedule and thinking that, or are you carrying this into the conversation with the folks at the coffee shop?

How are you living this?

What do you think that we often get wrong about connection?

Any guesses to how many questions kids ask per day?

When do you need me home? What should we eat tonight? Want me to pick up subs?

Why have we stopped asking?

Why do we ask so few questions if we know so little about most things?

How are you?

What's good about it? What's fine about it?

Have you ever been asked this question before?

How did you come up with that list?

What could I just put in between these two people and make that go better?

What questions are you working with right now?

What's taking up lots of your brain space right now?

How honest do I want to be?

How vulnerable do I want to be?

What is the highest amount of value that you can give to a person or a group in the shortest amount of time for the most amount of money?

Anybody want to come?

When would you like to have that done?

When would you like to send me that first draft answer by?

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements about questions that we haven't necessarily explored that you were looking forward to being able to talk about as we came in?

Where's the best place for folks to catch up with you, and see what you're excited about and learn more about you?

What is something you would like to do more of?

Seth Godin: Embracing Tension & Unleashing Questions Strategic Potential | Seth Godin #25

Seth Godin, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000

"The reason we hesitate to ask questions is because they create tension." - Seth Godin

Seth Godin is a bestselling author of 22 books in 39 languages, entrepreneur, and speaker. Books include The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, This is Marketing, The Carbon Almanac, and most recently, This is Strategy. In April of 2025, he will upload his 10,000th daily blog post to one of the most popular blogs in the world; yeah, that's over 27 years of daily writing. Seth founded Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!) and is credited as the inventor of email marketing (the good kind).

Seth has given five TED talks, including two that rank as the most popular of all time. By teaching about everything from effective marketing and leadership to the spread of ideas and our responsibilities as leaders, Seth has motivated and inspired people worldwide.

I was introduced to his work in 2007, and this podcast was created in The Podcast Fellowship, a podcast incubator he led in 2018. His fingerprints are all over much of the work I have shipped. We met during the This is Strategy book launch in November last year, and this is our first conversation about questions.

The conversation delves into Seth's background, achievements, and philosophy behind the power of asking questions. They discuss how questions can create tension, drive more profound understanding, and foster meaningful connections. Seth shares anecdotes from his experiences, offering practical examples of strategically using questions in various contexts, from personal interactions to professional settings.

The episode underscores the necessity of intentionality in asking questions to effect change, highlighting the strategic importance of inquiry in personal growth and leadership. It concludes with reflections on empathy, systemic challenges, and the enduring significance of caring and trying to make a difference, no matter the state of the world.

Episode Notes

[03:47] Seth's Early Understanding of Questions

[04:33] The Power of Questions

[05:25] Building Relationships Through Questions

[06:41] This is Strategy: Focus on Questions

[10:21] Gamifying Questions

[11:34] Conversations as Infinite Games

[15:32] Creating Tension with Questions

[20:46] Effective Questioning Techniques

[23:21] Empathy and Engagement

[34:33] Strategy and Culture

[35:22] Microsoft's Transformation

[36:00] Global Perspectives on Questions

[39:39] Caring in a Challenging World

Resources Mentioned

The Dip by Seth Godin

Linchpin by Seth Godin

Purple Cow by Seth Godin

Tribes by Seth Godin

This Is Marketing by Seth Godin

The Carbon Almanac

This is Strategy by Seth Godin

Seth's Blog

What Does it Sound Like When You Change Your Mind? by Seth Godin

Value Creation Masterclass by Seth Godin on Udemy

The Strategy Deck by Seth Godin

Taylor Swift

Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith Curated Questions Episode

Unleashing the Idea Virus by Seth Godin

Tim Ferriss podcast with Seth Godin

Seth Godin website

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What do you do to get under the layer to really get down to those lower levels?

Is it just follow-up questions, mindset, worldview, and how that works for you?

How'd you get this job anyway?

What are things like around here?

What did your boss do before they were your boss?

Wow did you end up with this job?

Why are questions such a big part of This is Strategy?

If you had to charge ten times as much as you charge now, what would you do differently?

If it had to be free, what would you do differently?

Who's it for, and what's it for?

What is the change we seek to make?

How did you choose the questions for The Strategy Deck?

How big is our circle of us?

How many people do I care about?

Is the change we're making contagious?

Are there other ways to gamify the use of questions?

Any other thoughts on how questions might be gamified?

How do we play games with other people where we're aware of what it would be for them to win and for us to win?

What is it that you're challenged by?

What is it that you want to share?

What is it that you're afraid of?

If there isn't a change, then why are we wasting our time?

Can you define tension?

What kind of haircut do you want?

How long has it been since your last haircut?

How might one think about intentionally creating that question?

What factors should someone think about as they use questions to create tension?

How was school today?

What is the kind of interaction I'm hoping for over time?

How do I ask a different sort of question that over time will be answered with how was school today?

Were there any easy questions on your math homework?

Did anything good happen at school today?

What tension am I here to create?

What wrong questions continue to be asked?

What temperature is it outside?

When the person you could have been meets the person you are becoming, is it going to be a cause for celebration or heartbreak?

What are the questions we're going to ask each other?

What was life like at the dinner table when you were growing up?

What are we really trying to accomplish?

How do you have this cogent two sentence explanation of what you do?

How many clicks can we get per visit?

What would happen if there was a webpage that was designed to get you to leave?

What were the questions that were being asked by people in authority at Yahoo in 1999?

How did the stock do today?

Is anything broken?

What can you do today that will make the stock go up tomorrow?

What are risks worth taking?

What are we doing that might not work but that supports our mission?

What was the last thing you did that didn't work, and what did we learn from it?

What have we done to so delight our core customers that they're telling other people?

How has your international circle informed your life of questions?

What do I believe that other people don't believe?

What do I see that other people don't see?

What do I take for granted that other people don't take for granted?

What would blank do? What would Bob do? What would Jill do? What would Susan do?

What happened to them? What system are they in that made them decide that that was the right thing to do? And then how do we change the system?

How given the state of the world, do you manage to continue to care as much as you do?

Do you walk to school or take your lunch?

If you all can only care if things are going well, then what does that mean about caring?

Should I have spent the last 50 years curled up in a ball?

How do we go to the foundation and create community action?

Impactful Questions: Are You Better Off… | Ken Woodward #24

Ronald Reagan, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:13:57 -0000

This episode dives into the significant political question posed by Ronald Reagan during the closing moments of his 1980 presidential debate with Jimmy Carter: 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?'

Ken Woodward explores the context of the 1980 political climate, marked by economic difficulties, high inflation, unemployment, and international issues such as the Iran hostage crisis and concerns about U.S. global standing and nuclear threats. Reagan's question, which became iconic in U.S. political discourse, was noted for its simplicity, personal relevance, emotional resonance, and strategic timing. The question invited voters to reflect on their circumstances rather than abstract policies, ultimately contributing to Reagan's landslide victory.

The episode details six crucial lessons for crafting influential questions, emphasizing audience perspective, engagement, simplicity, timing, self-reflection, and a call to action. Listeners are encouraged to consider how such questions have shaped their decisions and to apply these insights in personal and professional contexts.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

[01:58] Setting the Stage: The 1980 Presidential Debate

[04:24] Reagan's Memorable Question

[06:01] Impact and Aftermath of the Debate

[06:45] Analyzing the Rhetorical Question

[13:06] Lessons from Reagan's Question

[16:05] Modern Applications and Reflections

[18:04] Conclusion and Call to Action

Resources Mentioned

Questions Asked

Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago?

Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago?

Is America as respected throughout the world as it was?

Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago?

Where do you feel it in your body?

What emotions come to the surface?

What pictures race through your mind?

Would it kill you to stop chewing your food with your mouth open?

What is your number seven?

What comes to mind?

Did you feel the knee-jerk need to answer right away when your politician asked?

Did you actually do the homework to determine what factors were most important to you, then look at data vice depending on emotion?

Is it any easier to see why someone in a different circumstance may answer differently than you?

How did the question affect your answer when the opposing politician asked it?

Did you use the same metric for the candidates or give your preferred candidate extra leeway?

What famous questions continue to pop up in your world?

Right Now Questions Explored | Ken Woodward #23

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 06:22:35 -0000

This episode explores 'Right Now Questions,' a concept introduced in an earlier 2024 podcast episode. The episode compiles various interviews where individuals share their current pressing questions.

Featured guests include author Chazz Scott, who discusses life post-book release and physical recovery, and sisters Shreyaa and Esha Venkat from the nonprofit NEST4US, who are considering their future plans and educational transitions. Other contributors include educator Kwame Sarfo-Mensah reflecting on his roles, business leader Bill Reed sharing deep questions on emotional triggers and passions, and multi-hyphenate EbonyJanice Moore contemplating her priesthood journey. Art Historian and problem solver Amy Herman ties in personal and professional life experiences, and Executive Coach Jerry Colonna speaks on his transitional stage. The audience is invited to share their own Right Now Questions, fostering a continuous journey of learning and inspiration.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Introduction to Right Now Questions

[01:58] Chazz Scott: Embracing Change and Overcoming Challenges

[05:31] Shreyaa and Esha Venkat: Balancing Nonprofit Work and Personal Growth

[10:02] Kwame Sarfo-Mensah: Reflecting on Personal and Professional Fulfillment

[11:49] Bill Reed: Lifelong Questions and Deep Connections

[17:30] Lizabeth Ruiz: A Global Perspective on Venezuela

[19:25] EbonyJanice Moore: Exploring Priesthood and African Spirituality

[28:00] Amy Herman: Leveraging Experiences for Growth

[33:11] Jerry Colonna: Navigating Life Transitions

[34:55] Conclusion and Invitation to Participate

Resources Mentioned

Chazz Scott

Success Starts Within: Achieve Your Potential Through Radical Self-Care by Chazz Scott

Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom by Kwame Sarfo-Mensah

2024 Recap, Reflections, and A Look Ahead | Ken Woodward #22

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 06:10:35 -0000

This episode features a solo reflection by Ken Woodward, the host of the Curated Questions podcast, on episodes from 2024. Ken provides an overview and insights from 19 different episodes. Snapshots include significant points, questions, and background with various guests, including activists, authors, executives, and performers. Topics range from personal growth, mentorship, and identity to end-of-life reflections, historical contexts, and the use of questions in different facets of life. The episode note ends with a call for listener feedback and plans for improvements in 2025, emphasizing community growth and listener engagement.

Episode Notes

[00:00] Reflecting on 2024: A Solo Journey

[01:29] Shreya and Esha Venkat: Making a Positive Impact

[02:17] Jimmy D. Smith: Mentorship and Strategic Friction

[03:10] Derek Sivers: Embracing Hard Questions

[04:26] Chaz Scott: Radical Self-Care and Personal Growth

[05:14] Kwame Sarfo-Mensah: Identity and Cultural Affirmation

[06:23] Bill Reed: Engaging with Heartfelt Questions

[07:03] Joe Primo: Gratitude and Life's Transitions

[08:01] David Pearl: Stretching Imagination with Questions

[08:50] Bobby Morgan: Restorative Practices in Education

[09:55] EbonyJanice Moore: Honoring Black Women

[11:15] Amy Herman: Visual Intelligence and Curiosity

[12:18] Jenny Hegland: The Story Behind the Poem

[13:04] Austin Graff: Caring Through Questions

[14:08] Nikki Giovanni: A Legacy of Conversation

[16:21] Cal Fussman: The Art of the Interview

[17:33] Brian Fretwell: Transforming Conversations

[18:23] Stephanie Easter: Navigating Leadership with Questions

[19:15] Jerry Colonna: Deep Questions on Belonging

[20:30] Lynn Borton: Choosing to be Curious

[21:08] Wrapping Up 2024: Celebrating the Power of Questions

[22:10] Looking Ahead to 2025: Enhancements and Community Growth

Resources Mentioned

Success Starts Within: Achieve Your Potential Through Radical Self-Care by Chazz Scott

Kwame Sarfo-Mensah

Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom by Kwame Sarfo-Mensah

Bill Reed

Joe Primo

Grateful Living

Brother David Steindl-Rast

All The Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit Of Dreams As Radical Resistance by EbonyJanice

Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris-Perry

Amy Herman

Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life by Amy Herman

Jenny Hegland

The Good Listening Project

Big Questions Podcast

Big Questions Podcast: The Great Farewell for Larry King

REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna

REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong by Jerry Colonna

Lynn Borton

Choose to be Curious Podcast

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

How can I take this forward in a way that works for me, that works for the community, and that benefits the greatest amount of people? Shreyaa Venkat

How do you use friction strategically? Jimmy D. Smith

What do I want more of? Brian Fretwell

What do I need less of? Derek Sivers

Why do I think I need more? Derek Sivers

Is more the solution? Derek Sivers

Is less the solution here? Derek Sivers

What habit do I need to let go of so I can show up as my authentic self? Chazz Scott

What is the origin of my preconceived notions about a particular group of people? Kwame Sarfo-Mensah

How are you doing? Bill Reed

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? Bill Reed

What can I celebrate today by seeing it as new rather than something mundane? Joe Primo

Really? David Pearl

What would it look like for Black women to get to live from that place, to create from that place, to imagine from that place, to build new ethic and curriculum and language, and push culture forward from that place? EbonyJanice

How can I ask the right questions to elicit information from this work of art to change how people look so they, in turn, can see better? Amy Herman

What is the historical context of the place? Austin Graff

What is the culture like now? Austin Graff

What are some of the biggest disappointments or tensions in the area? Austin Graff

How are you taking risks? Steffanie Easter

How do you persist? Steffanie Easter

How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don't want? Jerry Colonna

What is it that I have to give up that makes me feel safe so that the conditions of the world create belonging for everyone? Jerry Colonna

A Clarion Call For Kindness & Social Good! | Shreyaa & Esha Venkat #21

Shreyaa Venkat, Esha Venkat, NEST4US, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 07:09:44 -0000

Shreyaa Venkat and Esha Venkat were inspired by their parents model of serving those in need, and founded the non-profit NEST4US, that is N.E.S.T Numeral 4 U.S., as a philanthropic platform built upon kindness, generosity, and social good. With the mission of making the world better through kindness by mobilizing volunteers worldwide to advance progress on societal issues and spark equitable solutions for the greater good. Their work has received significant recognition, including the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award in 2020, which was co-chaired by all four living former presidents. Their year-end 2023 numbers include 7,000 volunteers, 85,000 blessing bags, and over $4.2M of meals donated across 30 countries and six continents.

The stats are impressive; what makes this nearly insane is this sibling effort started when they were ages 13 and 10.

Shreyaa is now 22 years old, the CEO of NEST4US, and a Global Health accelerated master's student at Georgetown University. She is pursuing a career in health policy, combining her passions for health equity, climate advocacy, and volunteerism to aid marginalized communities worldwide.

Esha is 19 years old, the COO of NEST4US, and is at Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Global Development. Over the past decade, she has contributed over 7000 hours of service, engaging people through a wide array of global service campaigns.

The sisters discuss the challenges they faced as young activists, the importance of asking questions, and their efforts to expand the nonprofit's impact both locally and globally. The conversation also touches on their personal development, the significance of self-care, and how community service has shaped their lives. Shreyaa and Esha emphasize the importance of involving young people in sustainable development and the power of simple acts of kindness. The episode encourages listeners to consider how they can make a difference in their communities and impact the world positively. Listen in for lots of questions!

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

[00:48] Meet Shreya and Isha Venkat

[03:27] The Power of Questions

[05:37] Travel and Cultural Awareness

[08:04] Adapting Service to Local Needs

[19:05] Early Beginnings of NEST4US

[23:42] Expanding Programs and Community Impact

[40:02] Creating a Bond Through Music

[41:26] Engaging Volunteers Beyond Service Hours

[42:55] Balancing Quantitative and Qualitative Impact

[47:35] Adapting to Virtual Platforms During COVID

[52:18] Expanding Internationally and Embracing Community

[53:55] Aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals

[01:00:54] Challenges and Growth in Social Impact Work

[01:12:20] Reflecting and Adapting for Future Impact

[01:17:03] Navigating Challenges and Saying No

[01:18:29] Aligning with United Nations SDGs and Managing Programs

[01:19:47] Seizing Opportunities and Mentorship

[01:29:48] Current Questions and Future Plans

[01:34:22] The Role of Martial Arts in Leadership

[01:39:45] The Importance of Self-Care

[01:45:08] Encouraging Community Involvement

Resources Mentioned

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Whole Foods

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Are we there yet?

Travel, what, does that look like for you?

How, how had questions been a part of travel?

Where were some of the places that you went to?

How did questions inform some of your experience, either preparation wise or while you were there?

How can we bring the ideas and the magic of NEST4US to this country?

How can we be able to connect and collaborate with similar organizations that exist globally?

What are the questions that you think about in those three buckets for that particular location to engage with the local communities?

How can I bring nest for us to Tanzania in a way that fits the Tanzanian context?

Who are we working with?

Who are we supporting?

What are the needs as said by them?

How do we also remain culturally conscious

How can we best listen and learn to the community members there, in order to create the best change possible and a change that really fits well in the context of the country itself?

Being aware of targeting or serving the local need, and then listening to what that actual need is, was that learned through mistake?

Did you get voices early on in your process of getting things going where you heard that and that became a part of, your work?

What is happening?

What is the mission?

What is the values of the specific organization, group, individual that is doing whatever work that is in that community?

What are common bad assumptions folks make?

What questions did you consider as you were standing things up as you're developing NEST4US?

How can we bring this kind of joy, this kind of passion in a space where other friends, other families and other friends can come together and enjoy it as much as we do?

How do we involve young people, families, and different groups of people in a way that allows them to impact the community in a way that they're passionate about?

How do we get people to join us?

How do we get our volunteers?

How do we get people to believe in our mission and help out at all of our events?

How do we scale?

How do we get more people involved?

Am I really making a difference?

Is this really having an impact?

Why don't we have the opportunity?

What are the questions that you work through as you evaluate adding more of these opportunities or categories?

What is the problem?

What are the things impacting the problem?

Why is this a gap in our community?

How can we, who are the people behind the work that's going to be done?

What are the challenges and barriers that you might face when you try to work with different people, bring different people together?

How can we prepare for that in a way that is equitable, that's fair, and that's not harming anyone in any way?

What does success look like?

How do we measure that?

How do we see it?

How do we notice it?

How do we document it?

How do we replicate it in the future?

What are some things similar that we've done in the past?

What works or what was some feedback that we thought would might be different?

What song do you want to add to the playlist?

Are there any questions you use to engage volunteers when they're coming in?

Which of these projects are you really feeling like engaging in today?

What do you think about this?

Is this something you're interested in?

How is it different between the in person events versus events that are literally spanning the globe?

What are some of the questions that really resonate with you as you look at these goals?

How do we bring this to the local level that we were working on

What is the role of youth in accelerating progress for the [United Nations] Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

How can we engage as many people as possible?

How do we harness that power of community to really drive about change and also advance those goals that we have of youth leadership and giving people that opportunity to play a role in something that they've clearly are passionate about?

Who are we to stop that?

How has it been for you in engaging with these leaders from all over the place?

Are there any particular questions that you think are not being asked or do not get the attention that it deserves?

What is the role of young people in sustainable development?

We need young people, but how?

What is meaningful youth engagement?

What does 'meaningful' mean?

How do we balance addressing urgent needs, like right now, short term needs with building that sustainable long term solutions that we need?

Are you just stumbling, fumbling, trying to figure your way through that?

What does that look like for you?

Is this making an impact?

What's going well?

What are people telling us?

What do we need to edit?

What do we need to change?

What do we need to keep the same

How do we ensure that we're still helping and staying true to that mission?

What does it look like for you to say no?

How do you keep those aligned with the UN SDGs without overstretching our bandwidths as individuals or our volunteers, or settling with just limited surface level engagement?

What if we did this and it worked out?

What if we did this and it didn't work out?

What can we get out of this opportunity?

How can we support others?

How can we continue to uplift the messages that we are trying to share through NEST4US?

Why can't both things be true?

What do you think is often misunderstood about those in need?

What is your right now question?

How can I be the bridge between grassroots work and the policy realm in order to maximize impact in the most equitable and cost effective way?

How can we take these words and these questions and turn them into answers that is done in a formalized way?

How can we take those policies and make sure they're being translated properly on the ground in order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity and access and quality services that they need most?

What is that transition going to look like?

How we can bring, that magic of NEST4US to campus?

Are there going to be new projects that we're thinking about implementing or old projects that we want to boost up?

What has earning black belts taught you?

Do you guys ever sleep?

What are my priorities at this moment?

Is this something I should really be pouring my energy into?

Are these the people that I want to pour my energy into?

How can we be like that?

How can I take this forward in a way that works for me, that works for the community, and that benefits the greatest amount of people?

What can we do today to make the world better in the future?

What is that one action or that those actions that we can take to actually make a difference in the world?

What if all 8 billion of us in the world did one kind act every single day?

What if everybody in the world helped just that one person?

How do we encourage others to ask better questions themselves?

How do we encourage each other to then take action after asking themselves these questions?

How do I get involved?

A Benediction For Black Womanhood And Softness! | EbonyJanice Moore #20

EbonyJanice Moore, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 06:22:02 -0000

EbonyJanice Moore is the founder and CEO of The Free People Project and The EbonyJanice Project. She has authored several books, and her most recent release is “All The Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit Of Dreams As Radical Resistance.” Her Spiritual Mentorship Program, entitled “Dream Yourself Free,” is designed to support Black Women in healing intergenerational wounds and prioritizing pleasure.

Her talks embody a Hip Hop Womanist perspective. She is the visionary and creator of Black Girl Mixtape, a platform and safe think space that elevates the intellectual authority of Black Women.

She founded the All The Black Girls Are Bestsellers Campaign, raising over a million dollars to mass-purchase Black femme books to achieve the coveted status of New York Times Bestseller. This project endeavored to spend most of these funds in small Black and Indie-owned bookstores, giving thousands of books to individuals and organizations nationwide.

EbonyJanice earned her Bachelor's in cultural anthropology and Political Science and a Master's of Arts in Social Change with a concentration in Spiritual Leadership, Womanist Theology, and Racial Justice.

I have followed EbonyJanice on social media for several years, learned from her worldview, and wanted to create a space for a deeper discussion about how questions have been a companion in her multi-faceted journey.

EbonyJanice recounts how her grandmother taught her to question texts early on. She shares insights from her spiritual mentorship program, 'Dream Yourself Free', and discusses her book 'All the Black Girls Are Activists' which delves into Black women's pursuit of dreams as resistance. EbonyJanice elaborates on the power of dreaming from a place of safety rather than resistance and the impact of nurturing Black women in her community. The discussion touches on societal pressures, systemic inequities, and the potential for transformative change when Black women are listened to and supported.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

[02:33] The Power of Questions

[04:50] Dreaming Beyond Resistance

[12:44] Exploring Love and Relationships

[20:39] Patriarchy and Society

[24:18] Honoring Latresha Gowdy

[31:03] The Journey of Self-Discovery

[38:12] Faith and Imagination

[40:19] Imagination and Faith: Childhood Reflections

[44:05] Expansive View of God and the Universe

[45:47] Softness and Vulnerability of Black Women

[51:09] Listening to Black Women: A Call to Action

[01:07:40] Personal Journey: Embracing African Spirituality

[01:15:48] Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Resources Mentioned

All The Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit Of Dreams As Radical Resistance by EbonyJanice Moore

Fannie Lou Hamer

Crush on You video by Lil' Kim

Something's Got to Give with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson

Ifá and Orisha initiation

Teaching Community a Pedagogy of Hope by Bell Hooks

Kamala Harris

Martin Luther King Jr.

Barack and Michelle Obama

Audrey Lorde

Angela Davis

Chanequa Walker-Barnes

Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris-Perry

Sonya Renee Taylor

Mahogany L. Browne

Zakiyyah Abdul-Mateen

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What other questions do you have?

Who would I get to be if I got to create my life from a place of dreaming and not always resistance?

Can you unpack that a little bit more or talk around what you're seeking to get at with that question?

What is the difference between me and my friend?

What would it look like if we could all just exist and not be carrying the weight of, a capitalist anti-black white supremacist society on our shoulders at the age of six?

What kind of questions currently fuel your imagination?

Is there an equivalent in male form of my girlfriends?

What would it look like if I radically love myself?

Who would I be if I really radically loved myself?

What are you going to do for freedom today?

Can you please say some more about how she lived this question?

How do you even know that?

How do you know that you can say that?

What happened to spark this?

What happened to inspire this for you to even try this for you to even walk in that direction?

You know, what about me?

What areas of my life have I not given myself the permission to be more EbonyJanice?

What areas of my life have I not explored?

How the heck did you know this?

Where the heck did you get that from?

Was I not paying attention during that sermon?

Where was that one chapter of the Bible you didn't read?

What is God doing on Saturn right now?

Why did he name them?

What was God thinking to organize the Big Dipper?

What does the Big Dipper mean?

What does God look like?

What does God sound like?

What is God doing?

What's God doing here?

What is God doing over there?

What does God do?

Why isn't God doing what would be helpful?

What questions must we wrestle with to achieve a world in which soft black women thrive?

What is your right now question?

what does it mean to be a priest?

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements about questions that we haven't necessarily explored?

Is that true?

Is that my voice?

Do I really believe this?

What is my own evidence that causes me to believe this?

Is there possible that there are more than one truth?

More than one path to this thing, if so, what is the other path?

Where's the best place for folks to engage with you, reach out, find out what you're excited about and learn more about you?

A Courageous Quest For Beloved Community | Jerry Colonna #19

Jerry Colonna, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Jerry Colonna is a coach, writer, and speaker focusing on leadership, business, and radical self-inquiry. For over two decades, he has proposed that work should be nonviolent to the self, community, and planet. He is host of the Reboot Podcast and the co-founder of Reboot.io, a company founded on the belief that work does not have to destroy us but rather how we achieve our fullest potential.

Jerry helps people lead with humanity and equanimity. His unique blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial expertise has resulted in working with some of the largest firms in the U.S. In his work as a coach, he draws on his experience in Venture Capital (VC) as Co-founder of Flatiron Partners, one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs in the New York City area.

Jerry is the author of two books: REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up and, most recently, REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.

I invited Jerry into a conversation because of his thoughtful use of questions. We will discuss one of his core questions, which I have used to navigate life and witnessed the power in the lives of others. His unflinching desire to see life's reality, step into all we can become, and call us into belonging is not for the faint of heart, but it results in being fully alive.

Jerry, who focuses on leadership and radical self-inquiry, shares his journey of using questions to navigate and understand the world. Jerry elaborates on his early career as a reporter, where his curiosity and questioning skills began to take shape, transitioning into his roles as a venture capitalist and now a coach. Through sharing personal stories, Jerry delves into the impact of his childhood, his experiences with depression, and his path to becoming a reporter who asked probing questions and tackling subjects that elicited deep emotional responses from business executives. He also discusses historical contexts and systemic issues stemming from fear and curiosity. Additionally, Jerry discusses the importance of remembering and acknowledging personal and communal histories to build better futures. The conversation is rich with insights into how powerful questions foster growth, belonging, and a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

[00:48] Meet Jerry Colonna: Coach, Writer, and Speaker

[02:37] The Power of Questions: Jerry's Journey

[05:07] Liberation Through Inquiry: Jerry's Early Career

[06:48] Curiosity in Journalism: Memorable Interviews

[09:58] The Role of Questions in Personal Growth

[23:59] Exploring Systemic Belonging and Fear

[31:53] Reflecting on Ancestry and Social Responsibility

[40:38] Embracing Difficult Questions

[41:05] Struggles and Inspirations

[42:31] Understanding Family Dynamics

[45:29] Pilgrimage to Ireland

[46:28] The Power of Remembrance

[51:32] Speed Bumps in Life

[56:01] Discovering Lost Family

[01:09:26] Reflecting on Transitions

[01:11:39] Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Resources Mentioned

Reboot Podcast

Reboot.io

REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna

REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong by Jerry Colonna

Chuck Exley

NCR Corporation

Barbara Walters

Control Data Corporation

Bill Norris

Seymour Cray

Parker Palmer

The Paranoid Style of American Politics by Richard Hofstadter

Rabbi Tarfon

The Price of the Ticket by James Baldwin

Virginia Bauman

Emma Colonna, Jerry's daughter

George Floyd

Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes

Remember by Joy Harjo

Mary Heffernan, Jerry's biological grandmother

William Michael Heffernan/Jerome Vito Colonna, Jerry's father

Sam Colonna, Jerry's son

Jerry Colonna on Instagram

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Do you recall any particular feeling or thinking about that freedom?

Why would you place a factory in this area?

Why would you do this?

Why are questions so important to you?

Why is this experience so important?

Why am I feeling the way I'm feeling?

What is it that I'm actually feeling?

How are you feeling in this moment?

How's my friend Ken feeling?

Why does the world behave the way we do?

Why are we attracted to powerful people in the way we are?

Why do we set aside what we say are our values, only to pursue what seems to be a destructive course?

Why do we treat each other the way we treat each other?

Why do we allow babies to carry guns and kill each other?

Why is the world the way it is?

What do I have to give up that I love or that makes me feel safe so that the world can be a little bit better and the climate doesn't feel threatened?

What does that look like in how we hold everything?

How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don't want?

Have you ever considered therapy?

Why do we, as a populace, find ourselves attracted to someone who appears grandiose and narcissistic?

How can we move to the systemic belonging of a beloved community?

Who benefits from your fear?

Who gave you your boogeyman?

What is it that I have to give up that makes me feel safe so that the conditions of the world create belonging for everyone?

Why haven't you been the courageous ones?

What happened to the queer members?

What happened to the people who felt gender dysmorphia or misgendered?

What happened to those who were victimized by child sexual abuse?

What happened to the enslavers?

What happened to the people who profited?

What happened to the people who themselves were enslaved?

What does it mean to be a better human when adult men die under the knee of a cop?

What does it mean in the 21st century in America?

What does it mean to be a better human under these conditions?

How have I been complicit in and benefited from the conditions in the world I say I don't want to see?

How do I strip away the blinders that mythology creates?

Who were my ancestors?

Who am I?

How was I brought to this spot at this time, given this task of changing the pattern so that my descendants live a different life?

What is the work that I have to do to change the trajectory of our community?

What is the posture that one should have as they approach a question to be able to get everything that it has to offer?

Why would my father not call that out?

Why would my father not give me a sense of safety?

How did she give him up for adoption?

Why my biological grandmother gave up my father for adoption

What do we do?

Can you tell me their name?

What did you call your grandmother?

What did mama smell like?

What are your right now questions?

What is to become of me?

What will I be like a year from now?

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements about questions that we haven't explored?

A Throughline: Death, Grief, Gratitude, And Grateful Living | Joe Primo #18

Joe Primo, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 05:06:38 -0000

Joe Primo is the CEO of Grateful Living, an organization based on the work of Brother David Steindl-Rast — 98 year-old author, scholar, and Benedictine monk who is also known as the “grandfather of gratitude.”

In his prior work with dying patients and grieving children, Joe encountered the deep sorrow and always-available joy that permeates our search for meaning. Gratefulness for life, he believes, is foundational to discovering meaning and the only response that is big enough and appropriate for the plot twists, delights, surprises, and devastation we encounter along the way. A student of Brother David since his studies at Yale Divinity School, Joe is committed to advancing their global movement and making the transformational practice of grateful living both accessible to all and integral to communities and places of belonging.

As an international speaker, author, and commentator, Joe has served on numerous boards. He is the author of “What Do We Tell the Children? Talking to Kids About Death and Dying.” He was previously the CEO of Good Grief.

Joe recounts his early experiences as a hospice chaplain, highlighting the importance of asking well-crafted, intentional questions to connect with and support grieving individuals. He emphasizes the foundational role of gratefulness in discovering meaning in life and shares stories from his work with children and families facing death. Joe discusses how grief, while universal and normal, is often mishandled due to societal discomfort and lack of understanding. He urges listeners to acknowledge, embrace, and integrate grief to move forward healthily. The conversation also delves into the commercialization of gratitude and how to return to its core essence as a spiritual practice. The episode concludes with Joe's reflections on living a grateful life, making improbable friends, and asking courageous questions to foster deeper understanding and connections.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

[01:09] Meet Joe Primo: CEO of Grateful Living

[02:36] The Power of Questions in Grief and Healing

[03:31] A Chaplain's Journey: Lessons from Hospice

[06:18] The Importance of Presence and Connection

[14:39] Personal Reflections on Grief and Loss

[20:54] Exploring the Concept of Grateful Living

[35:09] The Interconnectedness of Grief and Gratitude

[44:34] Anticipatory Grief and Caretaking Challenges

[46:15] The Power of Questions in Understanding Grief

[46:50] Navigating Grief Bursts and Emotional Roller Coasters

[49:00] Insensitive Comments and Their Impact

[51:59] The Importance of Showing Up Despite Awkwardness

[54:57] Shifting Perspectives on Grief and Support

[01:00:10] Embracing Gratefulness and Present Moment Awareness

[01:04:42] The Role of Questions in Healing and Connection

[01:13:15] Empowerment Through Grateful Living

[01:25:31] Final Thoughts and Encouragements

Resources Mentioned

Grateful Living

Brother David Steindl-Rast

What Do We Tell the Children? Talking to Kids About Death and Dying by Joe Primo

You Are Here by Brother David Steindl-Rast

Rainer Maria Rilke

Tao Te Ching

Rabbi Sharon Brous

Grateful Grief Course at Grateful Living

Grateful Gatherings Course at Grateful Living

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What other secrets did Grandpa have?

What's my point in this story?

How did he enrich your life?

What will you miss most about him?

What about him now or at the end of his life really surprised you?

What do you wish he understood about you that he didn't?

How do I begin this conversation?

What are the questions that I need to ask to achieve those goals I named earlier of understanding

What hopes did you have for baby J while you were pregnant?

How did you imagine your life would change as parents?

What are the best characteristics you think the other parent would've shared and given to Baby J?

What type of life did you envision for him?

Can you not see what everybody else is seeing here?

What else didn't happen?

If you had been able to sit with that 14-year-old self and ask those questions, how do you think that would have changed you?

How did that work?

Am I alone in this?

Are my thoughts ridiculous?

Am I a little crazy here?

What does this mean?

Why is it that there was a draw for you to even be working in that capacity?

Why are we here?

What is the meaning of all of this?

Life is a gift, and what are we to do with it?

What is the object in which we give gratitude?

Is gratitude itself just sufficient to exist?

Does there need to be an object to whom it is the thanks is given?

What are some of the ways gratitude has been cheapened?

What are ways to intentionally undo that or to get back to the heart of it, instead of the cheap knockoffs that we've been paying attention to?

What is misunderstood about grieving?

What is grief?

Why did this happen?

Why did this happen to me?

Why did this happen to the person?

What is the meaning of this?

Where is the meaning in this moment?

How will I live my life based on, or despite the events that have occurred?

Who do I want to become?

How can our questions help us understand what this experience or day is like?

How are you saying this to children?

Are you kidding me?

What questions do you carry with you and often revisit?

What does this moment have to offer me right now?

What can I celebrate today by seeing it a new, rather than something that is mundane

How do you think that's changing your relationship or response to those observations or moments?

How do we become more alive?

What makes us more alive?

What happened to you?

What do you do with this imperfection?

Art And Inquiry As A Threshold To Our Humanity | Amy Herman #17

Amy Herman, The Art of Perception, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 05:10:20 -0000

Amy Herman is a recovering lawyer and the founder and president of her company, The Art of Perception. Amy combines her litigation background with her training as an art historian to help a diverse clientele sharpen observation, analysis, and communication skills through a four-step framework of Assess, Analyze, Articulate, and Act. The roots of this work began while she was serving as the head of education at The Frick Collection in New York City. She took medical students out of their clinical setting and brought them to an art museum to teach them how to analyze works of art so that when they returned to the hospital in the clinical setting, they would be better observers of their patients.

Amy subsequently adapted the program for a wide range of professionals and leads sessions for the New York City Police Department, the FBI, the French National Police, the Department of Defense, Interpol, the State Department, Fortune 500 companies, first responders, retailers, and the military. In her highly participatory presentation, she demonstrates the necessity for astute visual literacy and how analyzing works of art affords participants an innovative way to refresh their sense of critical inquiry and skills necessary for sharper performance and effective leadership. The program has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The CBS Evening News, and Smithsonian Magazine.

Her 2018 TED talk, A Lesson on Looking, has amassed nearly 1M views. Ms. Herman holds an A.B., a J.D., and an M.A. in art history. Her May 2016 book, Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life, was on the New York Times and Washington Post best sellers’ lists. Her second book, Fixed: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem-Solving, was published in December 2021, and her third book, smART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain, was published in October 2022.

Amy shares her experiences from law and art history, emphasizing how questioning can broaden knowledge and improve problem-solving skills. Additionally, her expertise underscores the significance of effective communication, human connections, and shared experiences across personal and professional contexts. The conversation touches on themes of situational awareness, self-reflection, and the growth that comes from embracing imperfections, drawing on real-life examples and anecdotes, like learning from a retired prison guard and understanding trauma through the art of kintsugi.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

Episode Notes

[00:48] Meet Amy Herman: Lawyer Turned Art Historian

[02:16] The Power of Questions in Art and Life

[04:44] Art and Observation: Transforming Perspectives

[06:36] Personal Stories and Reflections

[10:29] Engaging with Art and Humanity

[21:06] The Importance of Clear Communication

[31:12] Finding Common Ground Through Art

[40:50] The Unique Perspective of Art Guards

[41:50] Engaging with Art Through Questions

[43:24] Personal Stories and Art

[47:42] The Power of Situational Awareness

[51:29] The Importance of Asking Hard Questions

[55:16] Learning and Unlearning Through Questions

[01:13:29] The Mandate to Share Experiences

[01:14:50] Final Thoughts and Encouragements

Resources Mentioned

The Art of Perception

The Frick Collection

Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life by Amy Herman

Fixed: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem-Solving by Amy Herman

smART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain by Amy Herman

Helen McKenzie

Mee Shim

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Mrs. Hannah Winthrop by John Singleton Copley

Nicolaes Ruts by Rembrandt

Dr. Edgar Munhall

Monica, son's babysitter

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Hirshhorn

Johannes Vermeer

Faith Ringgold

Mrs. Kate Moore by John Singer Sargent

Cobalt Blue Dress by Amoako Boafo

Philippa Pham Hughes

Kintsugi

Amy Herman on Instagram

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

Do you have any art exercises that I could do with my kids?

how can we ask better questions of looking at art?

In your training as a art historian, are questions an equal part of a foundation of understanding?

How can I ask the right questions to elicit information from this work of art to change how people look so they, in turn, can see better?

how was your son's growing-up experience different as a result of your work?

How did I miss this?

What else am I missing?

What does that balance look like?

What are some consistencies you found regarding the kinds of questions these experts in these various disciplines have adopted?

Am I clear?

Am I being clear?

Do they really mean to say what they're saying?

Is this really what I want to say?

Is this what I want to communicate?

Is this what I don't want to say?

How do you make sure you don't trip over a mahogany table?

Anything I need to know before we go into the operating room?

How do we ensure we don't miss what's hiding in plain sight?

Anything here I'm missing?

Anything I do not see here?

How did he die?

How did you find out?

How would you use questions to get yourself to default to your humanity?

How are you using questions to help you regulate yourself?

What's the best thing that happened to you so far today?

What's something wonderful that happened to you that you couldn't see coming?

What do you think of this?

What do you see here?

What's your favorite piece here?

Do you have a favorite piece?

Is there something you like in this room more than others?

What do you like here?

What is your process for coming up with your questions as you look at a piece of art?

Who thought to put these two together?

Who put these together?

What does the artist look like?

How did they come up with the two of these?

What were the curators thinking?

How does that lay the groundwork for how we're going to see the rest of this exhibition?

Do they know that it's being exhibited here?

How do I see it?

How do other people see it?

Where am I?

How did I get here?

How do I get out of here safely?

How do I communicate to others where I am?

Where am I in this painting?

Did the artist include me in the painting?

Am I shut out of the painting?

Do I identify with the subject?

Do I not identify with the subject?

How can they ask better questions?

How do they ask the difficult questions?

How did I get here?

How did it take me so long?

What got us here?

How do we get out of this?

What is the call to action to change how we got here?

What is your process for helping folks reckon with whatever got them there?

How do we look at ourselves as that piece of art?

What am I relying on for this behavior?

Why do I do this?

How can I leverage this experience to make life better for me, those I care about and the people I work with?

How can I take this experience and make it better?

Why can't you just accept the experience for what it is?

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements about questions that we haven't explored?

How are you?

Mental Conditioning & The Path To Self-Discovery | Chazz Scott #16

Chazz Scott, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

[00:48] Meet Chaz Scott: A Journey of Transformation

[02:32] The Power of Questions and Mental Wellness

[05:09] Empowering Youth Through Mental Wellness

[10:29] The Role of Self-Reflection and Empowering Questions

[22:03] The Importance of Self-Care and Morning Routines

[27:47] Transformative Power of Morning Routines

[29:15] The Importance of Self-Reflection

[36:56] Challenging Negative Self-Talk

[40:30] The Journey of Personal Growth

[51:29]Empathy Through Experience

[53:29] Encouragement for the Future

[56:21] Connect and Engage

Resources Mentioned

The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Supra Mentem

Positively Caviar

Success Starts Within: Achieve Your Potential Through Radical Self-Care by Chazz Scott

Hampton University

Instinctive Elaboration

Michael Beckwith

Black Panther Movement

David Goggins

The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Deja Vu with Denzel Washington

Carl Jung

The Patriot Run

Chazz Scott on Instagram

Chazzscott.com/book

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What's the purpose of my life?

How can I have a happy life?

How can I enjoy my life?

How can I overcome challenges more easily?

Why target the middle schooler?

How do you use curiosity and questions to engage this particular group?

Do you know what negative self-talk is?

Do you know the importance of positive self-talk?

Have you ever heard of meditation or yoga?

What if I can accomplish this?

What if I can get over this fear?

What if I can accomplish that goal?

Were these a series of questions that you had used for yourself?

What was your process for coming up with this list of questions?

What kinds of emotions do I want to feel daily?

What hobbies or passions make me feel excited about my life?

What habit do I need to let go of so I can show up as my authentic self?

Why me?

Why does this happen to me?

What was your personal process as you were going through these questions?

Was that a journaling thing?

How often were you diving into these questions or just ruminating on them throughout the day?

What did that look like for you in your journey to get to transformation?

How would you recommend some of those successful or optimal techniques?

What questions have you found that are underutilized?

Who am I?

How do I want to show up?

Are there any particular questions that you carry with you and revisit?

How do I want to show up as a leader?

Do I want to be empathetic?

Do I recognize when somebody is struggling and I can encourage them?

How do I want to show up as myself?

How can I show up as my true, authentic self daily?

What would your wisest self say to you right now in this situation?

What's the impact of this book on me?

What clarity can I see that I've gained from this book?

What is your Right Now Question?

What's next?

Any other thoughts on how to develop empathy?

The Vocabulary of Identity & Creating Culturally Affirming Classrooms | Kwame Sarfo-Mensah #15

Kwame Sarfo-Mensah, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0000

"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?

Questions At The Heart Of Leadership, Mentorship and Relationships | Bill Reed #14

Bill Reed, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0000

"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 William@Dwellspring.io

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?

Questions As A Creative Force At The Intersection Of Curiosity, Business, And Art | David Pearl #13

David Pearl, Street Wisdom, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:00:00 -0000

"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

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?

Navigating Leadership, Friction, Mentorship, and Legacy | Jimmy D. Smith #12

Jimmy D. Smith, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:00:43 -0000

"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: jsmith@smithadvisoryconsulting.com

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?

A Storyteller's Quest for Connection & Belonging | Cal Fussman #11

Cal Fussman, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

"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

Big Questions Podcast

Tim Ferriss

John F. Kennedy

Lyndon B. Johnson

University of Missouri

University of Nebraska

St. Louis Post Dispatch

Biq Questions Episode Larry King: The Great Farewell

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?

Nikki Giovanni: Reflections On Life, Galaxies, & A Poetic Exploration of Questions | Nikki Giovanni #10

Nikki Giovanni, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 21:14:34 -0000

"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

Dr. Robert J. Baker University of Texas

Leaf-Nosed Bat named for Nikki Giovanni

A Library by Nikki Giovanni

Mrs. Long (librarian)

Sister Althea (teacher)

Flora Alexander (teacher)

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

Beloved by Toni Morrison

I Married My Mother (poem) by Nikki Giovanni

The Yellow Jacket (poem) by Nikki Giovanni

Ego Trippin (poem) by Nikki Giovanni

Nikki-Rosa (poem) by Nikki Giovanni

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?

Derek Sivers: Challenging Conventions, Reframing, & The Intentional Path | Derek Sivers #09

Derek Sivers, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 14:39:06 -0000

"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

The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi

SUM Tales of the Afterlife by David Eagleman

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?

Finding Good, Fighting Loneliness, and Embracing Self-Interested Curiosity | Brian Fretwell #08

Brian Fretwell, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Thu, 30 May 2024 01:53:04 -0000

"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:

brian@findinggood.com

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?

Executive DoD Civilian, US Navy Engineer, & Leading With Questions | Steffanie Easter #07

Steffanie Easter, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Mon, 20 May 2024 01:38:13 -0000

"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?

Creating Disruptive Educators & Restorative Classroom Practices | Bobby Morgan #06

Bobby Morgan, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:26:34 -0000

"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?

Being a Listening Poet, Grief, and Questions as a Pathway to Healing | Jenny Hegland #05

Jenny Hegland, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Jenny Hegland fosters connections and relationships wherever she lands. As a University Community Engagement Relationship Manager, golf instructor, community disaster recovery lead, and listening poet, Jenny pays sincere attention to those she engages. She has two loves; Jenny serves as the Executive Director of The Good Listening Project and co-founder of Unlimited Boundaries.

Jenny opens with heroics in Saipan in the aftermath of a typhoon, then recounts how community engagement and outreach fueled activism and making a difference in the community. Jenny explains the role of the listening poet and the impact it has had on her and those she serves. We discussed her parents' role in encouraging questions and how questions can be a pathway to healing. Other topics include community, grief, and loneliness. Jenny also shares two of her listening poet poems and the backstory that inspired them.

Episode Notes

Jenny's story behind founding a disaster recovery start-up following a catastrophic typhoon in Saipan [1:50]

Organizing and community activity in Rochester, Minnesota [5:45]

Describes the work of a listening poet and the birth of The Good Listening Project [10:30]

Why Jenny became a listener poet [14:55]

The start of curiosity through Appreciative Inquiry [17:55]

How Jenny's mom defended her right to ask questions [20:45]

How questions can be a pathway to healing [30:30]

The definition of love [36:30]

Questions used to listen [37:20]

Powerful communications tool [39:40]

The movement of emotions is a definition of healing [43:00]

A poem for a 13-year-old, "My Family is a Family" [44:45]

Co-creation of a poem [48:50]

A poem for a Father whose daughter died, "Evermore" [49:26]

A discussion on grief [54:00]

How the practice of listening can address the specter of loneliness [59:00]

Unlimited Boundaries and flipping questions [1:01:55]

Focusing on the quality of questions [1:09:09]

Emergence and breakthrough through silence [1:09:50]

Poem by Mark Nepo [1:12:30]

An invitation and where to reach Jenny Hegland [1:13:40]

Resources Mentioned

Saipan

United for Saipan

CARE CNMI Saipan

University of Minnesota Rochester

Vote "No" Campaign

The Good Listening Project

Kay McKeen

Frankie Abraland

The Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations That Matter

Appreciative Inquiry

David Cooperrider

angel Kyoto williams

Harvard Sprint to Accelerate Vaccination Equitably (SAVE) in Community and Rural Health

Jenny Hegland on LinkedIn

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

How does one go from life in Minnesota to founding a disaster recovery start-up following a catastrophic typhoon in Saipan?

What kind of organizing did you do in Rochester, MN?

What was the origin of the Vote "No" Campaign?

What is a listening poet?

What prompted you to join this task (listener poet)?

What is harvesting (conversations)?

How did your curiosity and care for others start?

Is there a pocket of coherence or innovation where things are working?

How do you know this is true?

Is there anything in your origin story that comes up in the quest of asking questions?

What questions do you use to draw people out?

What would you like to have a poem about?

Tell me more.

What was that like for you?

When you think about reading this poem, how do you want it to make you feel?

What is the story behind the poems?

What if time is all we have?

Why does this question have this effect on you?

Any thoughts on how questions might be used?

Raising High EQ Kids, Living With Intention, & Curiosity Led Global Travel | Austin Graff #04

Austin Graff, Curated Questions, Ken Woodward — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0000

"When you're someone's guest, one of the best ways to connect is to ask them questions and have this model of curiosity you carry about you." - Austin Graff

Austin Graff has seen much of the world. Born to American parents, he grew up in Russia and Kazakhstan and returned to the United States for college in Michigan. He has lived in Washington, DC, for nearly 20 years and is married with a seven-year-old daughter.

Austin has spent his entire career in social media and digital marketing. He started at non-profits, then shifted to larger companies such as Coca-Cola and, until recently, the Washington Post. In 2022, Austin launched Curiosity & Connection, which combines media consulting and travel guides. His family joins him on adventures as he explores and writes about DC's 131 neighborhoods and various global destinations.

Austin shares deep insights into raising inquisitive children with high emotional intelligence, planning and executing worldwide travel with care for the local community, living a designed lifestyle, and describing what is necessary for a level 10 community. This journey is characterized by Austin's humility, love for people, and insatiable curiosity.

Episode Notes

Austin's obsession as a Local Guide for Google Reviews [2:10]

Growing up in Tatarstan, Russia as a Third Culture Kid (TCK) [3:05]

Being the outsider fosters curiosity and questions [5:19]

Appreciation for local cultures [8:36]

Appreciation for Washington DC's culture [10:10]

Nuance and noticing the details of the local area and people [11:44]

Writing comprehensive Washington DC neighborhood travel guides [14:15]

Using curiosity and questions in a marriage [17:25]

Avoiding pain by asking relational questions [19:55]

Raising a child with high emotional intelligence [22:30]

The healing that comes from being a parent [25:20]

Learning with an inquisitive child [28:25]

Fearless travel through nearly 100 countries and desired destinations [30:45]

How Austin's daughter chooses her travel destinations [32:40]

Questions to ask when evaluating travel destinations [35:10]

Caring for local businesses and knowing when to tell the stories or not [38:30]

Diving into social media and influencer marketing [42:45]

Career highlights [45:40]

Odyssey planning and designing a desired life [47:52]

Community, how it is defined, developed, and lived [51:45]

Friendships take time [59:30]

Asking questions of social media (1:04:30]

Asking questions and cultivating space for the answers [1:07:18]

Where to follow Austin Graff [1:10:52]

Resources Mentioned

Curiosity and Connection

Fancy Nancy Goes to Paris

International Justice Mission

Questions Asked

Russia and Kazakhstan are not the standard zip codes for an American child; can you fill in the details for those who have not heard the story?

How did this growing-up experience foster curiosity and questions?

Has appreciation for local cultures grown out of not belonging?

What does your practice of asking questions with your wife look like?

What were the high/low points of your week?

Where do you see ourselves and family in 5/10 years?

What are your disappointments?

What was it like growing up in your family when you were at the age of seven?

How do you handle a very inquisitive daughter's questions coming at you?

How many countries have you visited?

What is at the top of the list of places you haven't visited yet?

What filters does your daughter use as she chooses a travel destination?

What questions do you ask when considering destinations?

What is the context we are stepping ourselves into?

What did it feel like for this country's masses during this time?

What is the historical context, and what is the culture like now?

What are some of the biggest joys you have seen in the people there?

What are some of the biggest disappointments or tensions in the area?

How can we be responsible travelers?

What is better for the earth?

Is it better to stay in a hotel or Airbnb?

Should we use public transit?

If using a tour guide, are they ethical or local? Do they give back to the community?

Asking local non-profits in the area about local social issues.

How do you find hidden places?

Do you want your story told?

What shifted you from Non-profit companies to Coca-Cola and the Washington Post?

How often do you and your wife discuss the Odyssey plan?

How do you intentionally become part of developing a community?

What have you done to foster the community where you live?

Do you like McDonald's French fries or Burger King's french fries better?

What kinds of questions do you wrestle with in a deep level of community?

What is stopping you from having this conversation with your friend?

What questions about social media are we not asking?

What question am I not asking that I should be?

How am I being authentic but also true to the privacy of my life?

How am I giving grace to the people I am following?

How is [media] affecting our culture and mental health through comparison?

Do you have any thoughts or encouragement about questions and how we might use them that we haven't touched on so far?

What else?

Asking of AI: What questions should I ask to get to know them better?

Mental Health Compassion and Choosing to Be Curious | Lynn Borton #03

Lynn Borton, Choose to be Curious, Ken Woodward, Curated Questions — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:13:58 -0000

"Choosing to be curious is acting on the idea that there's opportunity in the unknown, which becomes an invitation." - Lynn Borton

Lynn Borton is the creator and host of the podcast and Pacifica Network radio show "Choose to be Curious." Lynn is a facilitator—of conversations and transformation—with more than 30 years of experience in strategic governance and change management in the non-profit sector.

Combining science, organizational learning, and leadership development, Lynn is working to synthesize the study of curiosity into something we can all appreciate: an exciting path to greater personal well-being, professional success, and life satisfaction.

What started as a curious investigation into a startup radio station in Arlington, Virginia, developed into a weekly show with guests from across the globe and over 200 episodes.

We talk about Lynn's childhood and how her parents influenced her curiosity, her career fighting for the rights of those experiencing mental illness, and the transition to exploring curiosity via a radio show/podcast. Curiosity was just the right topic to cover during this Curated Questions relaunch episode.

Episode Notes

Lynn recounts how her parents fostered curiosity [2:25]

Lynn describes when she first understood the power of questions [5:15]

Asking questions out of care [8:15]

National Alliance on Mental Illness – the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization [9:20]

Realization it is better to ask questions than know everything [12:00]

Lynn's favorite book [14:00]

Discussion on mental health and checking in on people [15:55]

Mental illness is not a casserole illness [18:00]

The wellness community mindset doesn't apply to mental illness [20:20]

Complex PTSD [22:20]

Living and working with those who have mental illness and having intentional conversations [25:15]

The birth of Choose to be Curious [28:55]

Morbid curiosity and leaning towards what makes you uncomfortable [32:15]

The real power is in learning to craft your own questions [36:03]

Curiosity mentors [37:50]

Defining and cultivating a curiosity practice [40:50]

Respecting curiosity [42:50]

Itchy fingers and life as a beginner urban sketcher [46:50]

Investigating Choose to be Curious podcast episodes [50:15]

Where to follow Lynn Borton [53:05]

****************************************************************

Mentioned Resources

Choose to be Curious Podcast

NAMI

Trust, with Scott Nycum

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Chester

Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World by Scott Shigeoka

Morbid Curiosity, with Coltan Scrivner

The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker

The Right Question Institute

Valerie Hunter (Organizational Development)

Awareness by Anthony De Mello

What is a question, with Lani Watson

The Right Questions Institute, with Andrew Minigan

The right questions for legal empowerment, with Naomi Campbell

A double take on lynching, with Susan Strasser and Marcia E Cole

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

****************************************************************

Questions Asked

Was curiosity and questions a part of your childhood?

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What's going on?

How are you?

Are you absorbing the lessons?

What questions are we not asking about mental health?

What makes you come alive?

What might we do to change the stigma around mental illness, such that in conversations, it would be treated like any other illness?

What would you like me to know?

If it starts to go sideways for you, what would you like me to know and how can I be helpful?

What would NOT be helpful?

What was the draw to all things curiosity?

What curiosity conversations were surprising?

What system infrastructure and communications need to be in place for a zombie apocalypse?

What is a question?

What makes a question a question?

Who have been your mentors who modeled curiosity?

How can one cultivate curiosity?

What's even the least bit interesting to me around me?

What are the ways large and small people bring curiosity into their lives?

What area of your life are you a beginner?

What should someone start with your Choose to be Curious podcast?

Where is the best place to engage with you?

Fostering Curiosity, Testing Assumptions, and Loving Others | Pat Ennis #02

Pat Ennis, Kenneth Woodward, Curated Questions, ENNIS Legacy Partners — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 01:05:56 -0000

"Oftentimes people know their solutions, it is in them, we just have to ask the right questions for them to say what the solutions are." - Pat Ennis

Pat Ennis is a founder and President of ENNIS Legacy Partners. He helps business owners build sellable business value, control their exit, and leave their desired legacy. Pat has extensive executive leadership experience in wealth management and the non-profit sector. Additionally, Pat is a host of the Exit Readiness Podcast

I have known Pat for over 20 years and have experienced his skill at asking targeted and meaningful questions. His model of humility and patiently asking questions has been beneficial over the years. Our discussion provides a tangible example of the path curiosity can take a conversation.

We cover a lot of ground in our discussion. Pat explains how sales and serving his clients is first and foremost about being curious and taking a genuine interest in the individual sitting across the table. He talks about using questions to test assumptions and how asking meaningful questions is a means of loving others.

I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion, laughter, wisdom and the impromptu invite at the end.

I trust you will enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Show Notes

Pat explains early work history with questions [3:10]

How Pat got started selling insurance right out of High School [5:20]

How interest in others drives techniques [7:09]

ENNIS Legacy Partners origin story and how business owners were an inspiration [9:26]

Three questions Pat asks business owners about plans for selling a business [12:35]

Being present in today's world and the benefit to others and yourself [16:50]

Intentional about being presents and interested [18:45]

Testing assumptions [20:29]

Coaching Business Leaders [21:32]

Counseling and recommended speaking to listening ratios [23:00]

Discussing the confirmation question, "you know I'm for you?" in difficult conversations [24:30]

Humility and the desire to seek to understand [28:00]

Impact of social media on the ability to foster conversation [34:45]

What does it look like to love others [39:30]

How to meet others [47:43]

Contact information for Pat Ennis [54:30]

Reources Mentioned:

ENNIS Legacy Partners

Peter Drucker Quote: "My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions"

David Powlison & Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation

Because Of Them We Can

Philippa Hughes

Brene Brown

Cal Fussman

Questions Asked:

When did you first understand the power of questions?

How did you get so interested in questions to begin with?

Were you given training or sent to the wolves?

Have you modified your questions through different jobs?

Did your curiosity about others start with work?

Have you found any particular questions that are useful in different circumstances?

When are you thinking you want to exit or leave your business?

Do you know how much money you are going to need to do what you want to do next?

Have you thought about who you want to sell the business to?

Why do you think that is the only thing you can do?

Do you think there is a hack to asking better questions or do you just have to ask many to get to the answer?

Do you use any other questioning techniques for other areas?

Do you know I'm for you?

Have you had any mentors that helped you with questions?

How do you see questions used in the world are they used enough?

Do you think social media is impacting our ability to have conversations?

Do you find that asking questions communicates care for other people?

What are three go-to questions to meet new people?

Why is your best friend your best friend?

Meeting 10K People, Purposeful Connection, and Building Empathy | Rob Lawless #01

Rob Lawless, Ken Woodward — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 02:44:33 -0000

“It kinda felt like a punch in the gut, and felt guilty for even thinking that I could know what someone’s story was before sitting down to talk with them.” Rob Lawless

Rob Lawless is on a mission to connect with strangers one on one and get to know one another for an hour. His starting goal is 10,000 conversations, and I was his 3,097th.

Rob has crisscrossed the United States and ventured into Canada as he catalogs his steadily increasing numbers on Instagram @Robs10kFriends. He discusses his reasons behind wanting to connect with others, his vision for the future, how to build empathy, and being an active listener.

Our initial connection was in October of 2018 at the intersection of his project and my #YearOfConnection (@kenwoodward99) project on Instagram. This conversation includes some of my stories as Rob sought to learn about my connection journey to ensure he was faithful to the spirit of counting me among his 10k conversations.

I am grateful to the Tru by Hilton Audobon Valley Forge hotel for hosting our discussion. The background sounds were indicative of the happy hotel staff and guests.

Episode Notes:

Uses his planned trip to Albania in 2020 as an overview of his project. [00:30]

How confidence and gratitude increased during his project. [03:40]

Rob's approach to the conversation [08:56]

Where Rob starts his conversations and the structure he uses to understand people. [11:13]

Why Rob doesn’t put pressure on people during conversations. [13:30]

Pie analogy to understand primary elements of life. [13:50]

Thoughts about how to make human connection with others a viable option for busy people. [22:00]

Why he created the #12FriendChallenge [25:30]

Why questions are solutions for shy people in conversations [31:45]

What the next 10 years of conversation and achieving his goal will look like. [32:30]

Expects EQ will be more important than IQ in the future. [36:40]

Why he insists on strictly one-on-one conversations. [38:27]

Discusses international travel plans. [47:02]

Resources Mentioned:

KOTA The Friend

Drake

Tim Ferriss

Questions Asked:

How has your life changed as a result of this project?

Have you found any useful questions during your conversations?

Is career a big or small part of life?

Who is someone in your top five favorite musical artists?

What are routine things you do in your life outside of work?

What caused a transition?

How did you know that was not your true identity?

How did you start to work on your true identity?

How did you start to work toward your true self?

Why did you make human connection important?

What was the best way to connect with people?

When did you learn the power of questions?

What happens when you reach your goal?

Have there been any surprises on this journey?

Are there any places you would like to visit?

Curated Questions Podcast Trailer

Kenneth Woodward — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 05:49:56 -0000

What if the right question could change everything? What if curiosity wasn't just something we had, but rather a skill we could master?

Greetings, I'm Ken Woodward, and this is Curated Questions—a podcast celebrating the power of questions.

From leadership coaches to artists, from educators to entrepreneurs, I talk with experts who've discovered something remarkable: the questions we ask shape the lives we live.

You'll hear conversations about how thoughtful inquiry transforms careers, deepens relationships, and unlocks personal growth in perhaps ways you'd never considered.

Technology gives us answers; however, it's our humanity that brings the creativity to ask better questions.

Join me for Curated Questions—where every conversation starts with wondering what's possible.

Come along and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.