Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Summary In this episode, I sit down with four LinkedIn friends/colleagues to discuss Dacher Keltner's book, Awe the New Science of Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life . Each of my guests brings an important perspective to the topic. Dr. Keltner defines awe as connecting to something larger that yourself; "the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current und...

Guest Iain McHenry was born in Belfast and, after leaving school, joined the British Army and had a career that took him all over the world. He was stationed in Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada, The Falkland Islands, and Belgium, and he has completed operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone. He has always had a passion for WW1, and after leaving the army, he started...

Guest Tara LaFon Gooch, an acclaimed Keynote and TEDx speaker, is known for her expertise in confidence empowerment. As an international best-selling author, Tara's dynamic presence and passion inspire audiences globally. With an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and certifications from Cornell University and The University of Notre Dame, Tara's transformative message has bee...

Guest Bradley Wright is a professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut and the director of the Life Purpose Lab ( lifepurpose.lab.uconn.edu ). He teaches courses on well-being and research methodology. He is the co-author of The Purpose Journal: Discover Your Destiny and Leave a Legacy . His teaching and mentoring have received departmental and university awards. Bradley grew up in Cali...

Summary This episode explores the importance of storytelling in business communication and life. Inspired by his late wife Jane's spirit, Jarie Bolander delves into the importance of narratives that inspire action. The discussion weaves in Jarie's experience supporting organizations in crafting impactful stories, highlighting a common challenge faced by businesses and non-profits alike. The episod...

Summary I've been podcasting for more than five years and have more than 300 hundred episodes on topics that include space exploration, cooking, history, education, movie scores, the importance of objects in movies, inn-keeping, serendipity, beavers, bagels, nature, and fly fishing—to name a few! And I've been privileged to meet some incredible, giving, wise people. But like most podcasters—all?—I...

Guest As a former teacher turned speaker and happiness coach, Kim Strobel helps schools, businesses, and organizations prioritize their happiness and well-being so they can overcome their fears, discover their joy, activate their limitless potential, and boldly pursue their dreams. She is the author of Teach Happy. Summary This episode focuses on Kim's journey with panic disorder, highlighting the...

Guest Ben Goldfarb is an environmental journalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, the Atlantic, Smithsonian Magazine, and many other publications. He is the author of Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet , named one of the best books of 2023 by the New York Times, and Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter , winner of the PEN/E....

Guest Katie Mullen is the founder of MMS Consulting, which specializes in sales training and consulting and has helped Fortune 500 companies from all over the country increase sales, improve performance, and create more customer trust.  MMS Consulting was founded on a several-year research project on the topic of how customers want to be treated.  Hundreds of customers were interviewed on pet peev...

Guest John Camp (he goes by Camp) is Head of Teaching & Learning at the New England Innovation Academy, where he oversees the development of systems to recruit, hire, support, and evaluate teachers. He also supports teachers in developing and implementing the curriculum. He's been a leader and a teacher at various schools throughout his 29-year career.  His experience includes English and writing...

Guest Bennett (Ben) Bratt  helps leaders and their teams create the transformative, inclusive, and enduring changes in their team effectiveness that fuel their most deeply desired outcomes. He is the founder and principal at Team Elements, a consulting and coaching organization that helps identify and resolve issues holding teams back from achieving their desired goals. Ben is the author of The Te...

Guest Dr. Donya Ball is a leader, author, and keynote speaker. She currently serves as superintendent of schools in California. Dr. Ball is a professor of both educational leadership and teacher education and is passionate about studying, writing, and speaking about overcoming leadership hardships. She published her first book of the leadership series, Adjusting the Sails: Weathering the Storms of...

Summary "Getting Unstuck" host Jeff Ikler reflects on recent messages of remembrance that prompt him to consider life's impermanence of life and how he wants to be remembered. The Universe sends us messages to consider and, if we're open to them, to act upon. Facing the task of decluttering after his sister's passing, Jeff embraces "death cleaning" to downsize personal effects. Cherishing artifact...

Guests In this episode, I was deeply fortunate to sit down with two amazing guests: Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander . Ben is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Youth Orchestra. Rosamund was a therapist and an accomplished painter and sadly passed away in September 2023. They are the authors of The Art of Possibility – a life-change book if you adopt its twe...

Guest Dr. Hayley Watson is the founder and CEO of Open Parachute, a Tier 1 K-12 curriculum program that supports the mental health of students, teachers, and parents. She is a Clinical Psychologist and holds a PhD in school bullying interventions. She has been creating and delivering programs for youth and practitioners across the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia for the past 20 years.  Dr. Watso...

Guests As the "Connection Counselor,"  Joe Kwon 's mission is to help professionals elevate their careers by teaching them how to connect to anyone, anytime, and anywhere. He is the creator of the "Everybody Thrives" program, which is designed to help organizations transcend statistics, increase belonging, and unlock higher performance. He is also the author of three leadership books, including Un...

Guests Jason Greer is the Founder and President of Greer Consulting, Inc., a labor management and employee relations consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is a trusted source of the latest race and labor relations news for media nationwide. Summary Jason Greer and I dove deep into the crucial yet turbulent waters of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our polar...

Guests Andy Stephens  was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Washington on the Salish Sea. After 17 years, he traveled to Los Angeles to play college baseball in the sunshine. He taught in the public schools of LAUSD for six years before moving to Boulder, CO, where he now teaches science at New Vista High School and at area colleges. Summary My conversation with Andy revolved around the...

Summary No guest today in what is my first episode of the new year. I promise no New Year's resolutions except one: to read and digest as many books as I can during the year. Given my interest in books, I was curious to know what some of my colleagues, friends, and family members will read in 2024. So, I contacted more than 40 of them, asking them for a brief bio, their book of choice, and why tha...

Summary "Getting Unstuck" is somewhat of a rare animal in the world of podcasting. It's offered timely content focused on change, education, and curiosity for over 5 years and sits in the top 3% of all podcasts. 44% of all podcasts have less than 3 episodes, according to two tracking sources. Most podcasts don't make it past 10 episodes. Conversely, we just passed the 300-episode milestone, which...

Guests Mary Nadeau has worked at Nokomis Regional High as a teacher and administrator for the past 32 years. She has served as the Principal for the past 15 years.  Nick Miller is a member of the English department. Summary Our conversation explored how fly fishing, a seemingly unconventional activity in schools, can be woven into the fabric of education. We delved into the significance of the spo...

Summary Our conversation centered on the need to address the misconceptions surrounding homelessness and the importance of individual and collective action to create positive change. We emphasized the value of education and awareness in dismantling harmful stereotypes and empowering individuals to support those experiencing homelessness. By opening our hearts and minds, we can foster a more compas...

Guest Andrew Sachs is the CEO and Founder of Nobel Learning. Nobel helps learners get the technical, soft, and leadership skills they need to succeed in work and life in today's quickly changing world. Summary In this episode – which is an update of episode #122 where Andrew and I first talked – we focus on the need to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in school, life, and the ev...

My Guest Dennis Behnke provides individual and group tours of Berlin and German history, focusing on World War II and the Cold War. Summary / Key Topics My conversation with Dennis focused on the importance of history education, particularly in understanding World War II and its lasting impact. We discussed the challenges and opportunities of teaching history in a way that is both accurate and eng...

The Takeaway In this episode, I travel to Berlin, Germany, and the Bebelplatz, a large square in the city's heart. A university borders one side, a church another, and the opera another. Behind me is one of Berlin's main libraries.  Sitting atop one of the buildings is an outdoor bar with large colorful umbrellas to shield the patrons. As calming as the setting is today, it was anything but on the...