Steffanie recounts learning through asking questions while growing up and her early career as a US Navy civilian. She explains mentors' impact in shaping her inquisitive leadership style, what taking risks looks like, and how to lead with transparency. Additionally, Steffanie discusses navigating power structures as a minority woman decision-maker, how one can be an ally through effective leadership, and her current pursuit of improving as a listener and practicing self-care.
#06 Bobby Morgan: Creating Disruptive Educators & Restorative Classroom Practices
Bobby Morgan opens the episode by recounting the realization that his approach to teaching did not inspire the intended results in his students. This realization prompted a process of unlearning while asking questions and listening to the very students he was there to teach. This conversation provides an exhaustive list of questions for students, teachers, parents, and anyone involved with school-aged kids... and we are all students. Bobby provides practical, real-world examples of meaningful ways to serve every aspect of the educational system by building disruptive educators.
#05 Jenny Hegland: Being a Listening Poet, Grief, and Questions as a Pathway to Healing
Jenny opens with heroics in Saipan in the aftermath of a typhoon, then recounts how community engagement and outreach fueled activism and making a difference in the community. Jenny explains the role of the listening poet and the impact it has had on her and those she serves. We discussed her parents' role in encouraging questions and how questions can be a pathway to healing. Other topics include community, grief, and loneliness. Jenny also shares two of her listening poet poems and the backstory that inspired them.
#04 Austin Graff: Raising High EQ Kids, Living With Intention, & Curiosity Led Global Travel
Austin Graff has seen much of the world. Born to American parents, he grew up in Russia and Kazakhstan and returned to the United States for college in Michigan. He has lived in Washington, DC, for nearly 20 years and is married with a seven-year-old daughter.
Austin has spent his entire career in social media and digital marketing. He started at non-profits, then shifted to larger companies such as Coca-Cola and, until recently, the Washington Post. In 2022, Austin launched Curiosity & Connection, which combines media consulting and travel guides. His family joins him on adventures as he explores and writes about DC's 131 neighborhoods and various global destinations.
Austin shares deep insights into raising inquisitive children with high emotional intelligence, planning and executing worldwide travel with care for the local community, living a designed lifestyle, and describing what is necessary for a level 10 community. This journey is characterized by Austin's humility, love for people, and insatiable curiosity.
#03 Lynn Borton: Mental Health Compassion and Choosing to Be Curious
"Choosing to be curious is acting on the idea that there's opportunity in the unknown, which becomes an invitation." - Lynn Borton
Lynn Borton is the creator and host of the podcast and Pacifica Network radio show "Choose to be Curious."
New Season Starts February 7th 2024!!
Coming Soon!
February 7th launches a new season of the Curated Questions podcast, a place for engaging the questioning community.
A new guest lineup delves into how they use questions to achieve success in their lives.
Conversations include:
What is your origin story for understanding the power of questions?
How did curiosity take root in your life?
What questions do you carry today?
and
What questions are underutilized in your field?
And so much more!
This season also kicks off with the premiere of a new theme song composed by Washington DC's Beauty Pill, a band with more heart than you can imagine.
2024 promises to be a memorable year, and we will all need to find our sources of light.
Come along and join the community that loves engaging with just the right questions to open the door to connection.
See you on February 7th, wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode #2: Pat Ennis
“Oftentimes people know their solutions, it is in them, we just have to ask the right questions for them to say what the solutions are.”
Pat Ennis is a founder and President of ENNIS Legacy Partners. He helps business owners build sellable business value, control their exit, and leave their desired legacy. Pat has extensive executive leadership experience in wealth management and the non-profit sector. Additionally, Pat is a host of the Exit Readiness Podcast
I have known Pat for over 20 years and have experienced his skill at asking targeted and meaningful questions. His model of humility and patiently asking questions has been beneficial over the years. Our discussion provides a tangible example of the path curiosity can take a conversation.
We cover a lot of ground in our discussion. Pat explains how sales and serving his clients is first and foremost about being curious and taking a genuine interest in the individual sitting across the table. He talks about using questions to test assumptions and how asking meaningful questions is a means of loving others.
Episode #01: Rob Lawless
“It kinda felt like a punch in the gut, and felt guilty for even thinking that I could know what someone’s story was before sitting down to talk with them.” Rob Lawless
Rob Lawless is on a mission to connect with strangers one on one and get to know one another for an hour. His starting goal is 10,000 conversations, and I was his 3,097th.
Rob has crisscrossed the United States and ventured into Canada as he catalogs his steadily increasing numbers on Instagram @Robs10kFriends. He discusses his reasons behind wanting to connect with others, his vision for the future, how to build empathy, and being an active listener.
See website for full post and show notes.
Podcast Trailer
The anticipated podcast compendium to the website has become a reality.
Curated Questions is curating the worlds most important and interesting questions. The podcast engages experts who are implementing best practices to make the most of each question.
Check out the trailer and then subscribe. Great discussions and tips will be delivered for your listening pleasure.