Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions!

"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...

"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 Ame...

"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,...

"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...

"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 t...

"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...

"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...

"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, le...

"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 organi...

"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 spe...

"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 t...

"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...

"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 & devel...

"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-epil...

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 tho...

"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 Matt...

"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 bl...

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...

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 futu...

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-o...

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 solut...

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...

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. Jerr...

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 belie...

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...