Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

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 compassionate and inclusive society. My Guests Peggy Wilms is the founder of award-winning All Things Wellness, an entrepreneur, author, host of The Coach Peggy Show, and wellness retreat host, educator, and speaker. She is a certified personal trainer, sports performance nutritionist, and personal and executive health, wellness, and life coach for nearly 35 years. Dennis Pitocco is the Founder and Chief ReImaginator of 360° Nation encompasses a publishing enterprise; the award-winning BIZCATALYST 360°, a multimedia enterprise; 360° Nation Studios, and a social enterprise, GoodWorks 360°. Social Media Unsheltered landing page Unsheltered FAQ Interview guide

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 ever-changing job market. We discussed the role of technology in education and the value of youth-led projects and collaboration. We also explored the challenges of education reform and the need to find ways to make traditional education more relevant to today's students. One of Andrew's most profound ideas was, "If you want kids to lead, let them learn to make decisions. Let them make decisions. And let them make mistakes." Social Media/Referenced Nobel Learning

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 engaging, and we highlighted the significance of personal stories and memorials in bringing history to life. We also explored the issue of anti-Semitism and its relevance to the Holocaust, emphasizing the need to learn from the past to prevent such atrocities from happening again. Social Media Berlin Storyteller website/tours Dennis's email

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 night of May 10, 1933. There, a mob of Nazis, Nazi-leaning students, and citizens gathered to burn an estimated 20,000 books the Nazi regime had deemed culturally and spiritually unfit. The only visual evidence of that event is a subterranean memorial with enough empty library shelves to hold an estimated 20,000 books. Social Media / References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empty_Library#:~:text=The%20Empty%20Library%20(1995)%2C,Germany%20on%20May%2010%2C%201933. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebelplatz

Summary This week, something different. As we approach Thanksgiving, I find myself in a contemplative mood. So, I'm solo this week, starting what could become a lengthy exercise that will have me unwrapping and considering the package that is my life in 15 crossroad moments. Talk about being curious. Jeff's Crossroad Topics Punching the clock: newspapers, groceries, and dishes Book of the Month Club Earning my keep at home Neighborhood explorer The U-505: life foreshadowed in a German submarine Montana: killing spiders, stacking wood, and landing on the moon Discovering agency: a sawdust puppet, no more model airplanes, and a road trip The last parking meter Quetico: biting insects, muddy portages, and reflections A vision on a staircase "No" and a box of chocolates Coached Perfection and Da Vinci's "Last Supper" A conversation in a small café in Vermont Death and Decluttering

My Guest Susan Engel is a professor at Williams College, where she teaches courses on developmental psychology and education. Her research interests include children's curiosity, invention, and ideas. She is currently working on a book about Kindergarten in America. Summary / Key Topics Lifelong learning and curiosity are essential for a thriving society. They allow us to adapt to change, solve problems, and create new opportunities. Yet, curiosity is often overlooked in education, leading to a decline in curiosity among children. There are many ways to foster curiosity in children. One is to create a learning environment that is safe and supportive, where children feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. Another is to provide children with opportunities to explore their interests and learn at their own pace. Finally, it is important to model curiosity by showing children we are always learning and growing. Curiosity is valuable in education because it motivates students to learn and helps them to develop critical thinking skills. Curious students are more likely to ask questions, investigate problems, and develop creative solutions. They are also more likely to be engaged in learning and retain information. Education should nurture students' curiosity, helping them to become lifelong learners. This can be done by providing students with opportunities to learn about the world around them, develop their problem-solving skills, and connect with their own interests. Resources / Social Media The Hungry Mind: The Origins of Curiosity The Hungry Mind: Psychologist Susan Engel's Call To Arms | WBUR News / The Intellectual Lives of Children Why Should This Be So? with Susan Engel - CHOOSE TO BE CURIOUS Susan Engel - Psychology https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jan/28/schools-killing-curiosity-learn https://elimindset.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/engel2011.pdf Neil DeGrasse Tyson George Land study

My Guests Bill Whiteside is a sales and marketing executive turned software salesman turned lay historian turned narrative nonfiction writer. He is the author of an engaging memoir, Everyone Knows a Salesman Can't Write A Book, and to further debunk the myth that he can't write, he's finishing up a much-anticipated book about a little-known incident in Winston Churchill's tenure as Britain's Prime Minister during World War II. After completing an undergraduate degree in history and political science at Simon Fraser University, Paul McNicholls spent a career in insurance claims investigation. When nearing retirement, he was approached by the UK publisher Helion and Company, and the result was his first book "Journey Through the Wilderness." He is now writing "Canadians on the Veldt," which chronicles Canada's role during the South African War between 1899 and 1902. In 2021, Paul received the Howard Browne Medal from the Victorian Military Society. Summary History is the story of our humanity – and inhumanity – and is essential for understanding our present and shaping our future. In this podcast, our two lay historians discuss the importance of history and memoir writing through a study of Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets by Burkhard Bilger. In this discussion, we explore the complexity of historical figures' actions and motivations and the importance of writing histories with personal stories and critical analysis. Throughout the podcast, the authors share their writing and research techniques and reflect on the ways in which history, war, and personal growth can all intersect. This podcast is an informative exploration of the human condition, and it will appeal to anyone interested in history, memoir, or the power of storytelling. Topics in this episode The appeal of history and writing books. (2:27) History and its importance in understanding society. (6:22) A family history book set during WWII. (8:48) Nazi history, current events, and personal perspectives. (15:31) The complexity of a historical figure's actions and motivations. (18:00) Writing histories with personal stories and strategic analysis. (19:58) Winston Churchill's actions during World War II. (24:31) Writing, character flaws, and personal curiosity. (29:16) History and politics with a focus on the first half of the 20th century. (34:19) Nazis meeting to manage the "final solution" of Jews. (35:44) History, gray areas, and personal stories. (39:06) Referenced Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets Social Media Links Bill LinkedIn Website Twitter Spoutible (bwhiteside3@gmail.com) Paul LinkedIn

My guest Kate Jackson is the principal at Enso Wellbeing Coaching, where she works with individuals and organizations to enhance leadership, culture, communication, productivity, retention, and, ultimately, well-being. Kate is also co-author of Flyfishing - A Pathway to Wellbeing and offers workshops to individuals and business teams at Margo and Lola Flyfishing School in Ellsworth, WI. Summary The real story in this episode is how Kate's personal experiences – divorce, stage 4 cancer, and an initial career in the corporate world – came together to inform how she approaches her work as a well-being coach and consultant. She speaks with hard-earned authenticity and an awareness that her message of well-being and its potential benefits must be expressed in a language that business leaders and teams are willing to hear. Key Topics Social Media Links / Referenced LinkedIn Website Book Article on her health and well-being Work at Simms Video referencing her mental health work at Simms:

My Guest June Hersh began her food writing career in 2004. Her mantra is Eat Well-Do Good, and to that end, she writes books with a charitable flavor. Her first was Recipes Remembered, a Celebration of Survival (Ruder Finn Press May 2011), written in association with and to benefit the Museum of Jewish Heritage - a Living memorial to the Holocaust. The book is a collection of stories and recipes from June's interviews with over 100 Holocaust survivors. This November, a new edition of her first book will be released by The History Press under the title Food, Hope & Resilience: Authentic Recipes and Remarkable Stories from Holocaust Survivors. The esteemed chef Daniel Boulud penned the foreword. Proceeds will benefit Holocaust organizations. June has also written The Kosher Carnivore (St. Martin's Press November 2011), Still Here, Inspiration from Survivors and Liberators of the Holocaust (Brian Marcus, 2015), Yoghurt a Global History (Reaktion Books 2021 and Iconic New York Jewish Food, a History and Guide with Recipes (The History Press, February 2023). Summary Jewish food is a vibrant and diverse cuisine with a rich history, especially in New York City. June Hersh's book, "Iconic New York Jewish Food," explores this culinary landscape, focusing on the bagel, a beloved New York icon. Hersh examines the history, craftsmanship, and cultural significance of the bagel, as well as its role in Jewish food culture and traditions. Topics in this episode Food writing, Holocaust recipes, and Jewish food heritage. (4:40) Jewish food traditions and recipe preservation. (10:16) The history and cultural significance of bagels. (16:43) The history and culture of New York-style bagels. (20:49) The origins of bagels and lox in New York City. (28:44) Jewish food culture and traditions. (34:09) History, context, and food with June Hersh. (39:57) Food, history, and culture with a focus on Jewish cuisine. (42:48) Social Media Links She invites you to email her at junehersh@gmail.com, follow her on Instagram and Facebook @junehersh, or visit her website www.junehersh.com

Summary In this special edition of Getting Unstuck — Cultivating Curiosity, I rotate the mic and tell a story where, with help from a dear friend, Sarah Elkins, and some self-reflection, I extricated myself from "stuckville." About Sarah Elkins "Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision." In her work with coaching clients, Sarah guides people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What she's realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don't realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages and on the people they're sharing them with. Her work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on her podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and home. Sarah is the author of Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will. Referenced Elkins Consulting Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life The Work