Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Guest Jack Green has been fascinated by history since childhood. That lifelong interest has taken him on a journey across the UK and Europe, exploring places connected to 20th-century history. He is particularly drawn to locations where the past is still visible today, especially those that bear the scars and traces of the Blitz, a key part of British History during the Second World War. Summary T...

Guest Diane Boyd began working with wolves in Minnesota in 1976 and continues to do so today. She has authored more than 50 publications on wolves, including her recent memoir, A Woman Among Wolves. Her work has focused on wolf ecology, conservation, and resolving wolf-human conflict. Summary Diane Boyd's lifelong study of wolves has taken her from a young, "starry-eyed" researcher tracking and co...

Summary Sarah Jakle teaches high school girls practical civic and public-policy skills, along with neuroscience-based tools for confidence, resilience, and leadership. Her central point is that young women often "count themselves out" at critical moments because of imposter syndrome, anxiety, and social pressures. By learning to recognize their inner critic, engage their "inner best friend," and r...

Guest Amirah Cummings is the founder of KIO: Kids In Orbit™ and the creator of Kionaut, a learning ecosystem that helps young people cultivate curiosity, think like innovators, and develop the mindset to shape the future through STEM, storytelling, and meaningful exploration. Summary Amirah Cummings is building KIO: Kids in Orbit™, an educational ecosystem designed to help children learn how to th...

Guest For more than 25 years, Dr Nigel Perrin has been fascinated by the history of Occupied Paris and those who secretly fought the Nazis. He has shared his unique knowledge of the city's hidden spaces and places with thousands of private clients. He is the author of The Spy Who Betrayed, a biography of Mathilde Carré, and Spirit of Resistance, the story of a British agent in Occupied Franc e. Su...

Guests Tomelle Greenfield holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. As a Strobel Education Consultant, behavior specialist, and co-developer of the ROOTS Framework, she partners with schools to build proactive, relationship-centered systems that improve student behavior, educator confidence, and lasting outcomes.    As a former teacher tu...

Guest Dr. Tara Bishop has led the Perry Central Community Schools as superintendent for six years, but she's been part of the school community her whole life. Tara expands innovative career programs and grant-funded community services while cultivating a collaborative culture that supports teachers and administrators as the heart of every school.   As a former teacher turned speaker and happiness...

Summary The episode explores how constraints can become a powerful catalyst for innovation rather than an obstacle to it. Drawing on my experience leading an innovation initiative in educational publishing, I describe "in-the-box innovation," a systematic approach that modifies existing products and resources instead of relying on unfettered brainstorming. The episode argues that solutions are oft...

Guest Nick Parish is a writer, angler, and educator in Portland, Oregon. He's the editorial voice behind Current Flow State , a publication and member community aimed at helping people make fly fishing a bigger part of their life. Summary Fly fishing instructor, writer, and educator Nick Parrish joins me for a conversation that quickly moves beyond techniques and equipment into the philosophy of f...

Today on Getting Unstuck Hi, I'm Jeff Ikler, host of the Cultivating Curiosity podcast. This summer, I'm periodically releasing mini-episodes of "Cultivating Curiosity." In about 10 minutes, I'll dive deeper into a key point from a previously broadcast evergreen episode. The content in these mini-episodes is designed to be readily applicable to your life or work. Summary This mini-episode revisits...

Guest Dr. Melissa Hughes is a keynote speaker, author, and Human Potential Alchemist who helps people understand how the brain works so they can work, lead, and live better. With a doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction and decades of experience translating neuroscience into practical strategies, Melissa has become a trusted voice for organizations looking to improve leadership, communication, perf...

The story behind this episode The story I relate in this episode emerged when, in September 2019, I walked some of the World War I battlefields in Belgium and France with my guide, Iain McHenry. As we walked along where a trench had existed during the war, Iain told me the story of an archaeological dig that recovered and eventually identified the remains of a British soldier who was killed there...

Today on Getting Unstuck Hi, I'm Jeff Ikler, host of the Cultivating Curiosity podcast. This summer, I'm periodically releasing mini-episodes of "Cultivating Curiosity." In about 10 minutes, I'll dive deeper into a key point from a previously broadcast evergreen episode. The content in these mini-episodes is designed to be readily applicable to your life or work. At some point during the summer of...

Guest JoAnne Duncan has had a varied career, from Alaskan fly-fishing guide to elementary teacher and principal, always focused on valuing the strengths of every student and staff member. Though she's stepped away from her career in public education, she continues to learn, grow, and inspire others. A lifelong learner, she finds joy and insight outdoors, exploring nature and discovering new ideas,...

Guest Elizabeth Weingarten is a journalist and applied behavioral scientist who works at the intersection of science and storytelling. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, she has worked on the editorial staffs of The Atlantic, Slate , and Qatar Today, and was Managing Editor of Behavioral Scientist . Her writing has appeared in publications including The Atlantic ,...

Hi, I'm Jeff Ikler, host of the Cultivating Curiosity podcast. This summer, I'm periodically releasing mini-episodes of "Cultivating Curiosity." In about 10 minutes, I'll dive deeper into a key point from a previously broadcast evergreen episode. The content in these mini-episodes is designed to be readily applicable to your life or work. This week's mini-episode comes from a May 2023 interview wi...

Hi, I'm Jeff Ikler, host of the Getting Unstuck - Cultivating Curiosity podcast. This summer, I'm periodically releasing mini-episodes that, in under 10 minutes, dive into an evergreen idea from a previously broadcast episode. The content in these mini episodes is designed to be readily applicable to your life or work. This week's episode was inspired by a conversation with educator Dr. Deb Gustaf...

Guest Rich Gassen has worked at UW-Madison for over 15 years as Production Manager and, more recently, as Director at Digital Publishing and Printing Services. He focuses on empowerment, autonomy, and process improvements with his team. His work mantra has always been "Show Up and Participate," which continues to guide him in his lifelong learning. He also leads a community of practice for supervi...

Hi, I'm Jeff Ikler, host of the Cultivating Curiosity podcast. It's summer, and our thoughts naturally turn to making the most of longer days and warmer weather. We're desperate to be outside. With that in mind, I'm periodically releasing mini episodes of "Cultivating Curiosity." In about 10 minutes, I'll dive deeper into a key point from a previously broadcast evergreen episode. The content in th...

Guest After 11 years at IBM, Brooke Erol left a "great job on paper" to pursue a more aligned, purpose-driven life. She founded Your Best Life Inc. to help professionals find meaning at work, and later Purposeful Business to support leaders in building people-centered organizations. She is the author of  More Than A Paycheck  and  Create a Life You Love , and speaks globally on leadership and purp...

Guest JoAnne Duncan has had a varied career, from Alaskan fly-fishing guide to elementary teacher and principal, always focused on valuing the strengths of every student and staff member. Though she's stepped away from her career in public education, she continues to learn, grow, and inspire others. A lifelong learner, she finds joy and insight outdoors, exploring nature, and discovering new ideas...

Guest Dr. J ames E. Young is Distinguished University Professor of English and Judaic Studies Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he has taught since 1988, and Founding Director of the Institute forHolocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies at UMass Amherst. Professor Young is the author of Writing and Rewriting the Holocaust (Indiana University Press, 1988), The Texture of Me...

Guest Minnesota native  Aaron Hebeisen  grew up hunting, fishing, and recreating outdoors. His lifelong passion for wildlife led him to earn an Animal Ecology degree from Iowa State University. He has worked for the Minnesota Conservation Corps, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on wildlife disease research, and is now the Field Operations Coordi...

Guest Ashley Jablow (Jab-lo, pronouns: she/her) is the founder of Wayfinders Collective and creator of Life Design School , a creative studio for people in career and life transition. A seasoned facilitator, speaker, coach, and design strategist, Ashley blends design thinking and innovation, emotional intelligence, and creative tools to spark clarity and action for teams and individuals navigating...

My guest Dr. Shileste Overton Morris serves as the Chief Programs Officer at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit and the Director of the Center for Schools and Communities. The Center delivers national, state, local, and international services that build capacity in schools, districts, and organizations supporting children, youth, and families.  Dr. Overton Morris' expertise includes strateg...