CheapNFreeDC: Curiosity, Passion & Purpose, with Estee Levine

Choose to Be Curious

Research tells us that by leaning into externally-focused curiosity – “what do I notice that the world needs?” – and internally-focused curiosity – “How might I be able to contribute?” – we can find meaning and a sense of purpose in our lives. We can find what lights us up. Estee Levine did just that. A fun conversation about jumping in with …

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The World Peace Game is the brainchild of educator John Hunter. He describes it as “learning to live and work comfortably in the unknown.” It’s hard to imagine a more curiosity-centric undertaking. A three-dimensional, hands-on political simulation, the World Peace Game explores the interconnectedness of the global community through economic, social, and environmental crises and … Continued


Anne-Laure Le Cunff is a Choose to Be Curious trifecta: researcher, theoretician — and practitioner. A neuroscientist and deep thinker about the personal and social implications of our curiosity, she conducts tiny experiments to focus closely on how we use our time and energy to best effect. She is the founder of Ness Labs, a collective platform for curious people, where “ambitious knowledge … Continued


“Creativitry,” writes legendary playwright Stan Lai in the preface to his new book of that name, “Doesn’t exist as a word. Just as all creative things do not exist — until they do. “Rhymes with Artistry, and Chemistry, and Sorcery. “The know-how, practice and mastery of creativity.” The overlap, undercurrents and  interplay of creativity and curiosity come … Continued


How might understanding the experiences of disability help us be more curious about our own and others’ minds and bodies? And, most importantly, how might any of that help us be kinder and more patient with ourselves and each other? I’m profoundly grateful to legal scholar and disability media-maker Qudsiya Naqui for proposing today’s topic. Qudsiya Naqui: law.udc.edu/qudsiya-naqui/ … Continued


Brian Fretwell’s work grows out of a rich mix of neuroscience, anthropology, leadership and what you might call self-interested curiosity. Rather than obsessing about where we fell short and consoling ourselves we will learn from our mistakes, he encourages us to learn from our successes instead. The secret, he says, is connection. Brian Fretwell & Finding Good: www.findinggood.com … Continued


What if there were a mechanism –a format– that kept novelty high, provided some assurance that the information being imparted was important (at least to someone), and that might tap into things we know perhaps a bit about? Wouldn’t that seem like a pretty great curiosity vehicle? PechaKucha it is! “The foundation that PechaKucha is … Continued