Choose to be Curious

Executive coach Dana Theus and the executive director of OAR, Inc. (Offender Aid and Restoration) Elizabeth Jones are coupled in this quick lesson in the power of networks in our personal and professional success -- whether we're climbing the business ladder or getting back in the game after an incarceration. The secret: curiosity, of course! All that in under five minutes...

This is a show about curiosity in work and life - and in this episode we combine the two. How might curiosity help us find our calling? My friend Moe helps me think about it... Join us next time when executive coach Dana Theus shares what she has learned about bringing curiosity to that business necessity, networking. A whole new way to think about cocktail parties.

Mohamed Ali reflects on the importance of choosing to be curious in finding one's calling in work and life and Revs. Carolyn Richar and Junsen Nettles explain why faith and spirituality are all about the questions we ask. "It is," as Junsen Nettles puts it, "about the journey." Big questions in a little package - all that in five minutes!

Laine Coates is living the dream. She and her husband are quitting their jobs, hitting the road - and choosing to be curious about this great big country of ours. Would you want to live in 37' with two cats? Join us next time when my friend Mohamed Ali joins me to talk about choosing to be curious in work and life, or: finding one's calling.

What makes something feel like home? Laine Coates is taking to the road in a 37' RV with her husband and two cats in search of a place to call home -- and yoga teacher Jenn Seiff helps students settle into their own bodies. Taking curiosity on various journeys of discovery -- all in five short minutes. My favorite trick from Jenn? Something she calls 5-5-5. You'll have to listen in...

"Let's have a conversation," said then County Board candidate Vivek Patil. It was more than a campaign slogan. He's made it a central part of his life and work. Through an effort they've called Building Bridges, Vivek and others have set out to listen -- really listen -- to their neighbors and people outside their "bubbles" in hopes of building a stronger community and Commonwealth. "Curiosity mak...

Building all sorts of bridges in these five short minutes - across political, ideological, geographic and life divides. Vivek Patil, Stacy Snyder and Brandon Charles open their own versions of curiosity conversations in this segment on empathy and making a commitment to really listen.

How to be a better and smarter citizen of the world in one easy lesson from two terrific sources. Radio host and producer Bunmi Akinnusotu on getting curious about world affairs and teacher Patricia Hunt on news literacy. Curiosity helps keep you on top of the news. All that in five minutes!

Bunmi Akinnusotu, producer and host of "What In The World?" - also of WERA-LP 96.7FM - explores what curiosity brings to world affairs. We ponder the power of courage in face of the unknown and why Americans seem so reluctant to learn about others. A fresh take on paying attention to the world around us. Join us next time when entrepreneur, engineer and county activist Vivek Patil talks about buil...

We're all born curious -- and with a little effort, we can all stay curious. Marjorie Varner of Encore Learning and my own beloved parents weigh in on cultivating a life-long learning habit and choosing to be curious, no matter the age. All under five minutes!

Does curiosity take different forms as we age? Does it keep us from feeling "old"? Marjorie Varner, executive director of Encore Learning, explores the benefits of life-long learning and all that Encore Learning has to offer its volunteer instructors as well as its members. Spoiler alert: curiosity is good for your health! Join us next time when Bunmi Akinnusotu, host of "What in the World?" explo...

What happens when you choose to be curious about the places and spaces you inhabit? Artist and self-described radical pedestrianist Graham Coreil-Allen makes the case for being curious wherever you go -- and we head back to the Farmers Market to enjoy the thrill of discovery, even in a familiar place. All that in under five minutes!

Artist and self-described radical pedestrianist Graham Coreil-Allen produces participatory projects and leads social initiatives in the service of pedestrians and places. I think his voracious curiosity is both a unifying theme and his secret sauce. We'll wander around placemaking and being attentive to where we are in space. Come along for this fun and fascinating virtual Curiosity Walk! You'll n...

Exploring the nature of curiosity -- from its scientific origins to the language we use to describe this uniquely human trait. In a preview of this week's discussion with Dr. Tonya Howe about language, literature and the "feminine side" of curiosity, we make a link to another conversation about the nature of curiosity with neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. From the poetry of Milton to bench sc...

It started as a converstaion about the language we use to describe curiosity and became so much more! Marymount University's Dr. Tonya Howe explores how language and literature have shaped our ideas of curiosity and exploration for everyone from Eve to Real Houswives. Is curiosity a feminist issue? You decide... Join us next time when we talk about curiosity and place-making with Graham Coreil-All...

A preview of our show with Phone2Action co-founder and President Ximena Hartsock on curiosity and the entrepreneurial spirit -- and a revisit of the conversation with Beth Flores on design thinking and asking more beautiful questions regardless of context. Does inspiration float around looking for a place to land? And what role does curiosity have in staying open to innovation? All that in five fa...

Co-founder and President of Phone2Action Ximena Hartsock has a lot to say about curiosity and the entrepreneurial spirit in this wide-ranging conversation about innovation and risk-taking. What's not to love about a Latina "Tech Titan" with a passion for advocacy and public service? Be sure to join us next time when Tonya Howe, professor of language and literature at Marymount University, gets goi...

Checking out curiosity at the library - and storytelling in all kinds of forms. A preview of our show with Arlington Public Library's Jennifer Rothschild, in which she very much encourages heading down rabbit holes. And so I did, at the Center for Local History, where I discovered wonderful oral histories of Arlington County. German war prisoners? Dusty roads, and failed school bonds in the age of...

When I was a kid and I was curious, I headed to the library. Jennifer Rothschild of Arlington Public Library tells us all the ways in which libraries are still the place to check out your curiosity. Would you believe wheelbarrows and thermal cameras? Librarians as your personal curiosity concierge. What's not to love? Join us next time when Ximena Hartsock, co-founder and President of Phone2Action...

Science + Politics = potent mix! A preview of our show with Arlington potter and Together Virginia PAC founder Stacy Snyder about getting curious across political distances, both ideological and geographic. Turns out: science curiosity bursts political bubbles! So where else to go but back to the conversation with National Science Foundation director of polar research, Kelly Falkner? How might you...

"Be curious, not judgmental," wrote Walt Whitman - it's good advice, especially in times of political discord. Arlington potter and founder of Together Virginia, Stacy Snyder talks about getting curious across political distances, both ideological and geographic. How might we understand one another better and work to address all our needs more effectively? Start by listening.... I hope you'll join...

A debut effort! Combining a preview of our program with author Laura McBride with insights from former CIA counter-terrorism operative turned comic book writer Tom King and disability advocate Brandon -- curiosity, empathy and the human condition, all in under 5 minutes.

Author Laura McBride reflects on how curiosity shapes her writing - and our experience as readers. Reviewers describe Laura's new novel 'Round Midnight as “equal parts intricate and graceful” and “filled to the brim with captivating characters, humorous dialogue, and unexpected twists and turns,” but Laura shares an even deeper tale about how stories affect us and her own journey into being curiou...

We celebrated our first anniversary addressing a theme that has come up a lot across the months: Trust. Scott Nycum joins me to reflect on how curiosity builds trust - and vice versa. "Asking questions out of care - out of curiosity - is the start of it all." A lovely distillation of many conversations over the months... Join us next time when author Laura McBride talks about curiosity and writing...

Racism isn't going to go away by itself. It takes intentionality, effort, help from programs like Arlington's Challenging Racism (challengingracism.org) and some degree of curiosity. With those, we can begin to question what we see, or don't see, of the systemic nature of racism. Monique Brown joins me for a second conversation about making progress toward an anti-racist world. For the first part...