

Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity
Jeff Ikler
Curiosity sits at the intersection of creativity, effective human interactions, problem-solving and purposeful change. Unfortunately, the pace of life — at home, work, and school — often sidetracks our natural curiosity. So, let's see the familiar from a different angle or something new as a possibility to consider.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 2, 2021 • 41min
142: Looking at Student Performance in a New Way – Ben Rein
The traditional high school transcript reinforces outdated modes of education, limits learning to single subjects, and impedes the pursuit of educational equity. It sorts students through narrow measures such as grades and GPA. Ben Rein of the Mastery Transcript Consortium explains why the Mastery Transcript is a dramatic alternative. It supports each student in exploring varied pathways to futures of interest, and in being recognized for acquiring and mastering skills both inside and outside of school.

Jan 26, 2021 • 40min
141: Unleashing Learner-Centered Educators – Chris Unger
Our current system of education is broken. The structures and practices starting with our federal system, down to the states, to the districts, to the schools – including most of higher education – do not support or incentivize innovative ways of engaging students that encourage them to pursue their interests and passions, and develop the skills necessary to contribute to a better world. Dr. Chris Unger explains how we must inspire and empower educators to change education to better support students.

Jan 19, 2021 • 52min
140: Understanding Student Disengagement in School
When the Gallup organization measured student engagement in school, they found that engagement drops from 5th grade on. Only about half of students in middle school reported high levels of engagement and about one-third of high school students reported the same. Why are our students increasingly disengaged? In this conversation, Dr. Eric Toshalis who for the past three decades has served public education in a variety of roles explains the causes of student disengagement and what we can do about them.

Jan 12, 2021 • 40min
139: Exploring the World of Work – Gregg Brown
In this episode, we talk with Gregg Brown. Gregg spent 30 years in the telecommunications industry. He became an instructor at the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) where he taught marketing and economics using Profession Based Learning. In 2017, Gregg became the CAPS Network Coordinator to support the growing number of programs using the CAPS Model. Here, Gregg explains how businesses and schools are partnering to provide students with meaningful exposure to the world of work.

Jan 5, 2021 • 40min
138 Helping Students See a Life Purpose – Patrick Cook-Deegan
In this episode, we talk with Patrick Cook-Deegan. Patrick is a leader in reimagining adolescent education through the lens of purpose learning. He is the Founder and CEO of Project Wayfinder. Project Wayfinder imagines a world where adolescent education is designed for all students to develop lives of meaning and purpose. It partner with educators to design innovative learning experiences that foster meaningful connection and guide students to navigate life with purpose.

Dec 29, 2020 • 56min
137: Creating a Life of Possibility: "How Fascinating!" – Ben and Roz Zander
"It's all invented anyway, so we might as well invent a story that enhances our quality of life." Here we are fortunate to chat 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 is a therapist and an accomplished painter. They are the authors of The Art of Possibility — a life-change book if you practice its twelve practices. Roz is the author of a follow-up volume, Pathways to Possibility.

Dec 22, 2020 • 49min
136: Listening Carefully to Yourself – Lorraine Flower
What's it like to sense on a spiritual level that the work you're doing isn't the work you're supposed to be doing? Lorraine Flower's transformation story from corporate executive to corporate change agent – someone who brings the power of spirituality and consciousness into the workplace – is not typical of the business executive burnout stories that we're used to hearing. Lorraine was quite happy in her work. She simply had a feeling that she had a connection – as she puts it – "to something bigger."

Dec 15, 2020 • 42min
135: Learning How to Learn – Ed Hess
One of the ongoing changes we're increasingly experiencing is artificial intelligence: the simulation of human intelligence in a machine. Simply put, machines are quickly becoming "intelligent" enough to do many tasks that humans used to do. The implications are enormous, especially relative to the work we will do going forward and how we will do it. And, as our guest Professor Ed Hess explains, those shifts will require us to take our learning capabilities to a higher level in order to stay relevant.

Dec 8, 2020 • 40min
134: Leading the Authentic Life – Shelley Paxton
How in touch are you with your deepest values? How much are you leading your life in alignment with them? Author Shelley Paxton tells her story of awakening in Soulbattical: A Corporate Rebels Guide to Finding Your Best Life. Shelley went from a position of corporate power and prestige with one of the world's most iconic brands to the depths of near self-destruction. Only a recurring nightmare awakened her to the realization that life had to be and could be more.

Dec 1, 2020 • 44min
133: Releasing the Leader in Every Kid — Todd & Adam
How can educators help to develop the leader in every child? Educators Todd Nesloney and Adam Dovico explain.


