Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Jeff Ikler
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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.

  1. 4D AGO

    Digging Deeper to Find the Heart of the Story

    Guest None today; just me reflecting. Summary In this episode, I reflect on lessons I’ve drawn from Robert Redford’s film adaptation of A River Runs Through It and how they support my growth as a writer. At first, I loved the film for its beauty, but as a writer, I later returned to it as an instructional tool: how to go beyond the surface story of familial love to convey Maclean’s more profound meaning. The scene where Norman Maclean’s father insists he cut his drafts in half taught me that “thrift” is about essence, not just length. Like Norman, I struggle in my early drafts to move past surface storytelling and uncover what I am truly trying to say. With encouragement from my writing coach, Cindy House, and insights from writing instructor Jeannine Ouillette, I’ve learned to revise until I reach “aboutness”—the story’s heart that sits between the story’s plot and its themes. For me, digging deeper means discovering not just what happens, but what emotions I’m feeling that I want my readers to feel. The Bob Ross painting I refer to in the essay. Related Media In Episode 240 of the podcast, “Teaching—The River That Runs Through A Life,” I speak with John Dietsch, who choreographed all the fly fishing scenes in the film. Watch the scene where young Norman learns to write. Watch the emotional last scene in the film. Read this beautifully constructed review of Norman’s teaching and writing. For a related and highly informative podcast, listen to April Vokey’s interview with Rebecca McCarthy, who wrote an intimate portrait of Norman.

    8 min

  2. SEP 9

    Lessons in Curiosity and Storytelling

    Guest Sarah Elkins is a keynote speaker, Gallup StrengthsFinder coach, and the author and podcast host of Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will. She is the principal at Elkins’ Consulting. She is the organizing genius behind the annual No Longer Virtual Summit, a small business summit for those looking for a community of professionals to grow with - personally, professionally, and thoughtfully. In her work with coaching clients, Sarah guides individuals to enhance their communication by using storytelling as the foundation of their collaboration. 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 at home. Summary In this episode, Sarah and I discuss our key takeaways from her recent "No Longer Virtual Summit." We reflect on sessions that focused on finding a target audience and identifying one's "content personality type." We also explore how they've applied these concepts to their work. I share how I’ve narrowed the focus of my podcast to center on curiosity and innovation, while Sarah talks about incorporating storytelling and the StrengthsFinder assessment into her public speaking coaching. We both emphasize the importance of vulnerability, personal stories, and targeting a specific audience to build authentic connections and achieve career clarity. Key Takeaways Narrow your focus to find your target audience. Instead of trying to appeal to a broad market, solopreneurs should "shoot with a rifle, not with a shotgun" by focusing on a specific audience based on their values and the problems they solve for clients. Embrace your "content personality type" for business development. Identifying how you work best, such as in-person or through reflection, can guide how you build your business and get people to care about your services. Use storytelling to build authentic connections. Sharing personal stories that demonstrate your skills and values can create a deeper, more memorable connection with others. This is particularly effective for leaders and professionals in networking situations. Social Media: Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will Book: To support your local bookstore, visit Bookshop.org. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-stories-dont-define-you-how-you-tell-them-will/id1329558957

    57 min

  3. SEP 2

    Leading with Purpose—Reforming Locally Within an Antiquated National Public School System

    Guest Dr. Constantino “Costa” Aguilar is a distinguished educational leader with over 29 years of transformative service in public education. Throughout his dynamic career, Dr. Aguilar has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to student success and organizational excellence, serving in a wide range of leadership roles, including Spanish Teacher, Head Baseball Coach, Associate Principal, Principal, Executive Director of Technology and Innovation, and Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in the Merced Union High School District. He currently serves as the Superintendent of Riverbank Unified School District, where he continues to lead with strategic vision, innovation, and a relentless focus on equity and achievement for all students. Dr. Aguilar’s exceptional leadership has been recognized at the state level. He is a proud recipient of the prestigious “Honoring Our Own” award from the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) and has been named Mentoring Minds California Administrator of the Year. His accolades also include ACSA Region 9 Principal of the Year, Career Technical Education (CTE) Administrator of the Year, and District Principal and Co-Administrator of the Year—testaments to his ability to inspire teams, elevate learning environments, and drive sustainable change. Summary Dr. Constantino “Costa” Aguilar is a superintendent in his third year at Riverbank Unified School District. Costa shares his journey from being a Spanish teacher to becoming a superintendent and discusses his vision for educational reform. He highlights the importance of social-emotional learning and dual enrollment programs—high school and college—and emphasizes the need to teach students how to be productive members of society. Costa outlines the challenges facing education today, including social disengagement, mental health issues, and the integration of artificial intelligence. He also stresses the need for community engagement, parent involvement, and a shift away from antiquated, adult-centric school systems. Key Takeaways Educational Purpose and Reform: According to Costa, the current national K12 school system is "incredibly antiquated" and no longer serves students' needs. He believes the purpose of schooling should be to provide every student with the opportunity to pursue their dreams, regardless of what they are. Costa advocates for changes like different scheduling and focusing on mastery learning over traditional grading. The Role of Community and Social-Emotional Learning: Costa emphasizes the importance of unifying the community and building trust between parents and the school system. He believes social-emotional learning (SEL) is a foundational and essential component of education, helping students develop emotional intelligence and learn how to be productive social members of society. Challenges of Modern Education: The biggest challenges Costa faces include how to use artificial intelligence, improving literacy skills, and student mental health. Social Media Riverbank Unified School District

    54 min

  4. AUG 26

    Sitting Across From An Empty Chair

    In this episode, I reflect on some of the "No" responses I receive from potential guests. I have hosted this show for seven years and 376 episodes, yet some of my most popular episodes are about guests who declined to be on the show. I discuss three types of "Nos": a direct "No," an initial "Yes" followed by silence, and no response at all. I note that the rejections that linger with me are from guests I desperately wanted to host. I explain that I sometimes share these stories with my listeners to create something out of nothing and to explain what sparked my curiosity in the first place. I conclude that while a "No" still stings, I have learned not to take it personally; it is a fact of podcast life.

    9 min

  5. AUG 19

    Leading in the Wild—Cultivating Resilience, Customer Service, and Environmental Stewardship

    Guest Nanci Morris Lyon is a long-time resident of Bristol Bay, Alaska, living in King Salmon, where she owns Bear Trail Lodge on the famed Naknek River.  She is a long-time leader in Bristol Bay conservation and has been an essential voice in the fight against the Pebble Mine. As the first female guide in Bristol Bay and one of the first in Alaska, she is an inspiration for many young women pursuing careers in the sport-fishing world.  She was instrumental in the creation of the Bristol Bay Guide Academy, and 14 years later, she continues to be the lead instructor at the Academy, currently guiding some of her past students into roles as academy instructors. She is also a role model for guides throughout the country, demonstrating and emphasizing the importance of getting involved in fisheries management and conservation as a sport-fishing professional.  She has donated her time to several important Bristol Bay fisheries documents, including the Southwest Alaska Rainbow Trout management plan and the Nushagak King Salmon Management plan. Among the Bristol Bay guide circle, she is known as the “Queen of the Naknek.” Summary Nanci discusses her unique path to becoming a fishing guide and lodge operator. She shares her personal history, including graduating from high school at 16, working in veterinary medicine, and then building homes in Anchorage before a personal loss led her to a new career in guiding. Nanci highlights the importance of cultivating a strong customer service culture at the lodge, where employees are treated like family and encouraged to go beyond their basic duties. She also talks about her involvement in environmental issues, particularly her opposition to the proposed Pebble Mine, and her role in establishing a fly fishing guide academy for local youth. Key Takeaways Exceptional Customer Service is a Taught Culture: Nanci emphasizes that outstanding customer service is not accidental but a deliberate part of the company culture. She leads by example, showing employees that no task is too small, and she hires people who are genuinely interested in connecting with guests rather than just performing a job. She looks for individuals who want to "meet people where they're at" and make a positive impact on their day. Environmental Advocacy is Crucial in Remote Areas: The interview highlights the fragility of Alaska's natural resources and the importance of protecting them. Nanci's involvement in fighting against projects like the Pebble Mine, which threatened the entire Bristol Bay ecosystem, demonstrates how individuals and businesses in remote locations can become key advocates for environmental preservation and the subsistence lifestyles that depend on them. Challenges Foster Resilience: Nanci's life story, from losing her brother to adapting to the demands of a remote Alaskan lifestyle, illustrates how adversity can build resilience. She believes that stepping out of one's comfort zone, especially in an environment where self-reliance is essential, makes people better. This mentality is a core part of her character, as she views challenges as opportunities rather than insults Social Media Bear Trail Lodge

    47 min

  6. AUG 12

    375: Hiring Staff for What Matters Most

    Today on Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity One of the many problems that plague U.S. businesses, not-for-profits, and our U.S. education system is when and how to change. For many institutions, the process can look like fruit-of-the-month club: they try “this” until a new “this” comes along. A new something – process, way of thinking, way of leading etc. – is seen as the answer to all organizational ills . . . until a new, shinier something takes its place. As a result, employees are whipped-sawed by an unending stream of changes, and sustained results are rarely achieved. One who wrote at length about this problem was Jim Collins in his landmark book, Good to Great. There he looked at what great performing organizations do that good performing organizations typically don’t do. One of the habits that great organizations instinctively employ is something Collins called “the flywheel” – a process involving 4-6 elements with each element impacting / driving the next. The thinking went: “If we do “A,” then “B” will happen, which will cause “C” to happen, which will cause “D” and so on. Each element is a consequence of the element that came before it. As Collins wrote: “Pushing with great effort, you get the flywheel to inch forward. You keep pushing, and with persistent effort, you get the flywheel to complete on entire turn. You don’t stop. You keep pushing. The flywheel moves a bit fast. Then as some point —breakthrough! The flywheel flies forward with almost unstoppable momentum.” Guest The book was written about U.S. business, but the question was quickly asked, “Would this thinking work for not-for-profits and specifically, education?” One educator who was immediately intrigued is Dr. Deb Gustafson. Now retired, at the time of this interview, Deb was the Executive Director of Student Services for the Geary County Unified School District 475 based in Junction City, KS. She is the former principal of Ware Elementary School, and that’s where she started turning a flywheel that still turns today. Listen for • What the situation like at Ware Elementary when Deb became principal. • What it was about Collins’ book that most impacted Deb. • Why the first practice Deb installed as part of her flywheel – see the illustration – was “select teachers infused with passion.” • What Deb saw as the ultimate goal – the why, the purpose, the cause – behind what they we’re trying to accomplish at Ware. • The distinction we draw in the interview around “urgency.” There was “urgency” in needing to do something to resolve the pain that students and teachers are experiencing, but it wasn’t an urgency of pace or timing; it was an urgency around the imperative to take the right action where none had been taken before. • How Deb saw it as critical to “align, apply and enhance” any new initiatives and practices to the existing ones. • The impact the flywheel experience had as Deb trained new administrators. For reflection At one point in the interview, Deb noted “You just have to get to the root causes of what you need in your environment to sustain performance.” How often does your current organization actually identify root causes or the real problem to be solved? For more information Turning the Flywheel by Jim Collins

    1h 16m

  7. AUG 5

    Choosing America: A Discussion on Citizenship and Our Historical Paradox

    Guest Hannah Bratterud is a Norwegian-born writer, consultant, and real estate advisor living in Montana. Through her Substack “Finding Home,” she explores themes of identity, belonging, and transformation, particularly in times of personal or political upheaval. A leadership strategist by trade and a curious wanderer at heart, Hannah recently shared her journey of becoming an American citizen amid rising national uncertainty. Her work invites readers to question assumptions, embrace complexity, and keep choosing where and how they belong. Summary Hannah, who has now lived in the U.S. for 30 years, explains her decision to seek American citizenship now. She discusses the "paradox of America" – a nation founded on freedom but marked by historical injustices and inequality. Hannah is drawn to the U.S. for its opportunities and individual freedom, yet acknowledges the need to address systemic inequities and support marginalized groups. Her desire for civic engagement and to actively contribute to a more inclusive society drives her decision. Key Takeaways: Hannah's decision to seek U.S. citizenship now was, in part, influenced by the strong anti-immigration sentiment so prevalent today. If she were to leave the U.S. to visit relatives in Norway, would she be able to re-enter if she were not a citizen? She describes America as a paradox, valuing its promise of freedom and opportunity while acknowledging its historical foundations of genocide and slavery, and ongoing inequality. Hannah's motivation for becoming a U.S. citizen stems from a desire for civic engagement and to actively work towards creating freedom and opportunity for historically oppressed groups in America. Social Media Previous interview on Getting Unstuck: Learning to Invest in Yourself – A Transformation Story with Hannah Bratterud Substack article: Becoming American

    47 min

  8. JUL 29

    Managing Brand Touch Points to Meet the Organization's and Customers' Goals

    Guest None today; just me reflecting on recent events. Summary In this episode, I recount my recent fly fishing trip to Alaska, reflecting on how various organizations shaped my experience. Delta Airlines impressed him with personalized service and proactive rebooking. In contrast, an overpriced and unwelcoming airport hotel in Detroit left a negative impression. The Bear Trail Lodge in Alaska, however, stood out for its commitment to guest experience, environmental consciousness, and celebration of local culture, reinforcing the idea that a brand is defined by a series of customer touch points, not just its primary service. Key Points: A successful vacation, and by extension, a positive organizational experience, depends on mindset, handling unexpected issues, and interactions with external organizations. Organizations like Delta Airlines and the Bear Trail Lodge demonstrate an understanding that their overall brand and reputation are built upon numerous customer touch points, not just their core service. Personalized service, attention to detail (like a handwritten note or addressing customers by name), and embodying a brand's values contribute significantly to customer loyalty and satisfaction.

    10 min
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About

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.

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