Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Guest Kirk Wallace Johnson is the author of The Fishermen and the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast, The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century, and To Be a Friend is Fatal: the Fight to Save the Iraqis America Left Behind, which covers his efforts on behalf of Iraqi refugees as the founder of the List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies. Summary Our conversations explored several important topics in Kirk's life: • Why Kirk became passionate about supporting Iraqis who helped America during the Iraqi war gain entry into the U.S. and how that experience led to creating the "List Project" and his first book, To Be a Friend is Fatal. • How he found solace in fly fishing, which led to meeting fly fishing guide Spencer Seim and his writing of The Feather Thief, the story of a million-dollar theft of dead rare birds from the British Museum. • How a Bruce Springsteen song led Kirk to research a conflict between Vietnamese immigrants and the Ku Klux Klan along the Texas Gulf Coast and how Diane Wilson, an environmental activist, took on the corporations that were polluting the water. • Why educational restrictions on certain content stand in the way of helping youth to develop critical thinking. Links/References Kirk on "This American Life" • 499: Taking Names https://www.thisamericanlife.org/499/taking-names • 607: Didn't We Solve This One https://www.thisamericanlife.org/607/didnt-we-solve-this-one/act-two-1 • 654: The Feather Heist https://www.thisamericanlife.org/654/transcript • 745: Getting Out https://www.thisamericanlife.org/745/transcript Interview with the fly-fishing guide, Spencer Seim https://www.queticocoaching.com/blog/2021/11/29/getting-unstuck-200-life-and-leadership-from-a-fly-fishing-guide

Guest Bernard Beitman, M.D. is the first psychiatrist since Carl Jung to systematize the study of coincidences. A graduate of Yale Medical School, he did his psychiatric residency at Stanford University. The former chair of psychiatry at the University of Missouri-Columbia medical school for 17 years, he writes a blog for Psychology Today on coincidence. He is the author of Meaningful Coincidences: How and Why Synchronicity and Serendipity Matter, and the co-author of the award-winning book Learning Psychotherapy. The founder of The Coincidence Project, he lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Summary Our conversation explored a number of questions: • Why it is beneficial to pay attention to coincidences. • The difference between synchronicity and serendipity. • Obstacle to acting on triggers • How telepathy works. • The nature of simulpathity. • How the psycho-sphere is likely to function. • The relationship between coincidence and prayer. • How agency – free will, making personal choices – is essential when it comes to understanding and leveraging meaningful coincidence. Links/References Website: https://coincider.com/ Podcast: https://www.coincider.com/podcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBeitman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coincider?fref=nf Instagram: bernardbeitmanmd Trout Unlimited video: https://www.tu.org/scot-simmons-the-studio/

Guest A veteran San Francisco radio broadcaster, Joanne Greene currently hosts two podcasts - "All the F Words", in which two writer friends nearly 30 years apart explore issues that begin with the letter "F" and "In This Story…." Joanne's 3-minute essays, set to music. In June 2023 she publishes By Accident: A Memoir of Letting Go, her inspiring and growth-filled memoir through and emergence from life-threatening calamities. Summary In this episode, Joanne shares her life before and after a traumatic accident where she was hit by a truck while crossing the street. Three key discussion points emerged from our conversation. • Firstly, Joanne reflects on her fast-paced lifestyle as a means of distraction and how her parents' upbringing influenced her need to prove herself and be a provider. • Secondly, she delves into her decision to write a memoir, exploring the process of discovering its focus, the challenges of transitioning from a career in radio to writing, and the lessons she learned along the way, such as patience and controlling one's response to challenges. • Lastly, Joanne discusses the universal takeaways from her memoir, emphasizing the power of gratitude, the support of her family, and the blessings in her life. References/Links www.Joanne-Greene.com https://www.instagram.com/joannergreene/ https://www.facebook.com/joanne.greene.984/ @JoanneRGreene on Twitter

Guest Mark Reid is host of the "Zen Sammich" podcast and a maker of traditional handmade Japanese paper, called washi, where he lives in Yamaguchi, Japan. Before that he was an attorney, beginning his career as an Assistant District Attorney in New York. He's also been a professor of English at three universities in Japan and a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University in Religious Studies. Summary In this episode, we discuss • Why Mark left the practice of law and moved to Japan to make paper. • The origins and purpose of Mark's podcast, "Zen Sammich." • The importance of Mark's morning ritual. • How to calm your mind in an anxious situation. • An easy way to cultivate patience. References/Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/zen-sammich/

Guest Jennifer Jane Young is an Intuitive Business & Leadership Advisor and Founder of The School of Intuitive Leadership. She helps entrepreneurs and leaders find the path of least resistance, make the biggest impact and create sustainable, aligned success through intuitive leadership. Jennifer is also the author of the forthcoming book, Say Yes to Your Yes – How to trust your gut and take the leap in business (and life) Summary The conversation explored the concept of intuitive leadership, which involves tapping into one's inner wisdom and aligning it with personal goals. Jennifer highlighted the universality of intuition and the importance of practicing it through mindful reflection. We also discussed the "School of Intuitive Leadership," which supports individuals in taking intuitive action within a community. Jennifer shared personal experiences of embracing the unknown and growing through creativity and mindfulness. Finally, we discussed following intuitive nudges and making meaningful connections in life. References/Links http://instagram.com/jennifer.jane.young https://www.facebook.com/theschoolofintuitiveleadership http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-jane-young http://twitter.com/jennyjaneyoung https://youtube.com/@theschoolofintuitiveleadership

Dr. Alan Stern is an aerospace executive and planetary scientist with experience on 29 space mission teams, 14 of which he played a principal investigator role. Among those, he is the leader of NASA's New Horizons, the first mission to explore Pluto and the Kuiper Belt—making the farthest exploration of worlds in history. Summary Our conversation explored a number of questions: Why was the exploration of Pluto important? How does it remain so? What are the leadership lessons associated with the program? How can leaders encourage the identification of problems that could compromise the mission? Why is it essential to have a precise mission goal and sub-objectives? What qualities should leaders look for when hiring people? How can educators use space exploration to inspire students toward science and engineering careers? Why is the continued exploration of space critical? References/Links Instagram - chasingnewhorizons2018 Twitter - @AlanStern https://www.vox.com/2015/7/16/8980397/pluto-mission-cost

Guest Valerie Gordon is a 10-time Emmy-winning television producer with over 20 years of producing and overseeing award-winning content for HBO, ESPN, CBS, and the Olympic Games. She knows what makes a story meaningful and memorable and the incredible power of stories to engage, educate and entertain. An engaging speaker with innovative programming, Valerie offers audiences and individuals the storytelling strategies to stand out, whether they want to land a job, secure a promotion, nail the presentation, close the sale, or plan their next chapter. Summary Valerie and I discuss the importance of storytelling in leadership and how to improve storytelling skills. We dive into her highly readable book FIRE YOUR NARRATOR: A Storyteller's Guide to Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Life, which explores the impact of our internal communications on external communications. Valerie shares her own internal voice, "Squash," and how it hindered her growth. We explore a few of the ten narrator archetypes and some strategies for reshaping personal narratives and achieving healthier perspectives. The book also combines personal stories, neuroscience, and humor to help readers improve their storytelling skills. References/Links Website: https://thestorytellingstrategist.com/ More on the book: https://thestorytellingstrategist.com/fire-your-narrator/ (Available on Amazon and BN.com) Connect with Valerie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriejgordon/ Follow The Storytelling Strategist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStorytellingStrategist/ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storytelling_strategist/

Guest Hal Herring is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor at Field and Stream magazine. He is also the host of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Podcast and Blast. Summary The debate over public and private land and water in the United States has raised concerns over public access to natural resources. While large tracts of land are being bought up in the West, the major consequence is not raising real estate prices but rather a growing indifference to conservation and the environment. Politics plays a significant role in this issue, as policymakers tend to prioritize other issues, such as immigration and economic concerns. Public ignorance and indifference also contribute to this problem. There is a need for a more informed and less indifferent citizenry to address this issue, recognizing people's spiritual connection with nature's ecosystem. The three major topics discussed in this podcast conversation are: The debate over private and public land and water: The conversation delves into the issue of public access to public land and water, with a focus on the debate between private and public ownership. The Wyoming hunters' case is used as an illustration. Why environmental and conservation work is challenging: We discuss the challenges faced by environmental and conservation workers, including political lobbying, public ignorance and indifference, and the difficulty of passing conservation legislation. The spiritual connection, recognizing one's place in nature's ecosystem: We discussed the need for humans to recognize that they live in and are a part of the natural world – nature is not just a place they visit. This is especially important to recognize to broaden the discussion beyond what's good for hunters and fishers. References / Links Hal's website New York Times article Backcountry Hunters and Anglers BHA Podcast and Blast The Wilderness of Hope John Jeavons E&ENews Trout Unlimited

Guest Jeanine Cowen is an active media composer and educator. She is the chair and professor of practice of the Screen Scoring department at the University of Southern California. Formerly the Vice President for Curriculum and Program Innovation at Berklee, she is an experienced and skilled educator and innovator. She is an active freelance composer, music producer, and sound designer focusing primarily on the intersection of audio and visual medias, with particular interest in the burgeoning VR/AR/XR worlds and video games.Cowen's compositions have been heard throughout film, television, video games and the stage in works which include the definitive documentary The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo. Summary The conversation revolves around the music score of "The Night Window," a scene from the World War I film "1917." (See below.) The scene focuses on Lance Cpl. Schofield as he runs through the blazing ruins of a French village, dodging bullets and night flares. The haunting score, composed by Thomas Newman, begins softly and then accelerates to contribute to the scene's emotion. The episode delves into how film composers generate a movie's score, including discussions with the director and film editor. The importance of how film composers help tell a film's story in films is highlighted, as they speak with notes when actors and screenwriters speak with words. Referenced / Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeaninecowen The Night Window Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKew6JUNknk

Guest Rick Locke was born and raised in Erie, PA. He earned a BS in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in finance from Rutgers University. Rick's professional career in information technology spanned 39 years. He completed his career as Chief Information Officer at his last two companies and retired in 2014.Rick became interested in photography around 1980. He learned the craft through photo magazines and adult education classes. Initially, family and career demands limited his photographic endeavors to family vacations. By the early 2000s, with more time to devote to photography, he began to pursue his passion for photography more seriously. Summary What makes Rick unique and interesting is that he is now an outstanding photographer despite the fact that he is legally blind, the result of macular degeneration. He can still see out of the corner of his eye, which he wisely named his website, "Out of the Corner of My Eye." Following the theme of episodes 246 and 247, Rick's story is a great example of serendipity. The universe puts situations in front of us. Sometimes we see them, and sometimes we don't. Sometimes we act on them, and sometimes we don't. Rick created luck out of what others might have seen as a tragedy. While he was blessed with support from family, friends, doctors, and technology, Rick's personality and strength of character encouraged him to look at his challenge from a different and more positive angle. Links / References Website: www.RickLocke.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/OutoftheCornerofMyE