11:00 AM Pacific Time: Thursdays
Choose to Be Curious is a show all about curiosity. We talk about research and theory, but mostly it’s conversations about how curiosity shows up in work and life.
Hosted by Lynn Borton.
“What the teachers realized was that curiosity became the engine for learning.”~ Matthias Gruber This is a wide-ranging and exciting conversation about neuroscientist Matthias Gruber’s ongoing efforts to understand curiosity’s role in learning and memory. There’s a lot here. You may have to listen more than once — I know I did! We talk about … Continued
“Curiosity calls us to be present.” Lisa Kristine is a humanitarian photographer and fine artist. She uses her photography to expose deeply human stories and make pictures that tap our curiosity about the people and lives she has documented. We talk about her journey into documenting human trafficking and modern-day slavery, awareness and the importance … Continued
Lean into the language of smell with me: we sniff things out, we follow a scent. We’re nosey! Is this not curiosity, enacted? Embodied!? So what do we know about our sense of smell, and might studying it offer insights into the way our brains explore, learn and remember? Venkatesh Murthy studies smell. We have … Continued
As much as I champion curiosity, sometimes it can take us down bad paths. Thank goodness there are excellent resources that help us lean into our curiosity and recognize misinformation — then stop it in its tracks. “Curiosity can help us avoid things like confirmation bias or motivated reasoning, where were looking for answers that … Continued
How does a ghost writer get to the juiciest heart of their subject? Laura Zigman is the author of six novels and has ghostwritten and/or collaborated on multiple memoirs and non-fiction books. We have fun talking about writing with someone — not about them — and getting their voice right; the line between curiosity and … Continued
How might curiosity show up in our much-besieged civil service? Mikel Herrington is a veteran of both AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. We explore curiosity as the foundation that brings people into civil service, reciprocal curiosity across cultural and experiential divides, humility, humor, how service allows room for listening, and why someone might carry a pecan … Continued
For 15 years, Professor Shawkat Toorawa has offered three things worth knowing from literature, music and general knowledge — no strings attached. Each week during the academic year, Dr. T delivers a curiosity booster shot for anyone who wants to partake. It’s his gesture toward true liberal arts and an ever-expanding appreciation of the rich … Continued
What happens to intellectual freedom when libraries come under attack? What happens to curiosity? Librarian and director of the Department of Libraries in Arlington, VA, Diane Kresh joins me to explore the long and storied history of bad-ass librarians, book bans and book sanctuaries, the “curiosity paradox” of such bans, what makes libraries a center … Continued
This week’s conversation is about curiosity in translation and interpretation. Not just the literal, “how do you say this thing in that language?” but how do we use our curiosity to communicate our ideas effectively, to investigate what’s really being said when we’re quite literally not speaking one another’s language. Luckily, there are people like … Continued
In the first of what I hope is a periodic series, Rabbi Nancy Flam joins me to explore curiosity in the Jewish tradition. It’s a lovely discussion of everything from Moses’ response to the burning bush and the Jewish value sakranut, to creative betrayal and the importance of not getting kicked out for our questions. … Continued
