Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Jeff Ikler
  • 5.0 (32)
  • Self-Improvement
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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. 3d ago

    431: The Treachery of Mathilde Carré—Who Are We When Reality Tests Us?

    Guest For more than 25 years, Dr Nigel Perrin has been fascinated by the history of Occupied Paris and those who secretly fought the Nazis. He has shared his unique knowledge of the city's hidden spaces and places with thousands of private clients. He is the author of The Spy Who Betrayed, a biography of Mathilde Carré, and Spirit of Resistance, the story of a British agent in Occupied France. Summary Historian Dr. Nigel Perrin explores the extraordinary and disturbing life of Mathilde Carré, a French resistance leader whose wartime career defies easy categorization. Carré, later known as "the Cat," had no espionage experience before World War II, but the German occupation gave her an opportunity to reinvent herself. She helped create the Inter-Allied Network, which became one of the largest and most sophisticated resistance networks in occupied France. Yet Carré's commitment to the resistance was deeply intertwined with her own ambitions, fantasies, and desire for recognition. When she was captured by the Germans, that carefully constructed identity collapsed. Within 48 hours, she was cooperating with her captors, eventually helping destroy her own network and betraying 35 agents. She even became romantically involved with her German interrogator, Hugo Bleicher, before later helping British intelligence deceive the Germans and escape to London. Perrin's research avoids easy psychological or moral conclusions. Carré never expressed genuine remorse and spent the rest of her life trying to rehabilitate her reputation. Her story raises an unsettling question: when fantasy collides with reality under extreme pressure, who are we really? It also challenges the notion of a unified French "Resistance," revealing a fragile collection of improvised networks that depended on trust, luck, and trial and error. The Essential Point Mathilde Carré's story is ultimately less about her being a resistance spy and traitor than about the collision between the person she imagined herself to be and who she proved to be when reality tested her. Her story also forces us to confront an uncomfortable question: What would we do under the same pressure? Social Media LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nigelperrin http://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelperrin> Book links: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nigel-Perrin/author/B002B4NPHS https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781036144555/the-spy-who-betrayed/ Inquiries: np@parisoccupied.com Mail: np@parisoccupied.com "Your Paris" by Ted Hughes

  2. Sep 1

    What If Undesirable Student Behavior Is First Seen as a Message?

    Guests Tomelle Greenfield holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. As a Strobel Education Consultant, behavior specialist, and co-developer of the ROOTS Framework, she partners with schools to build proactive, relationship-centered systems that improve student behavior, educator confidence, and lasting outcomes.    As a former teacher turned speaker and happiness coach, Kim Strobel helps schools, businesses, and organizations prioritize happiness and well-being so they can overcome fears, discover joy, activate limitless potential, and boldly pursue their dreams. She is the author of Teach Happy. Summary Tomelle and Kim argue that schools need to rethink how they understand and respond to student behavior. Rather than treating behavior as a problem to be managed after it occurs, they see it as communication and believe schools should create conditions that prevent dysregulation in the first place. Their ROOTS approach brings together practices that are often treated as separate initiatives—including trauma-informed practices, social-emotional learning, restorative practices, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, relationship building, and classroom management—into a coherent system. A central theme is the importance of relationships and regulation. Dysregulated students cannot learn effectively, and simply removing them from class or imposing consequences does not teach the skills they lack. Teachers, too, need support in learning to regulate themselves and model those skills for students. Tomelle and Kim believe schools need to move from "doing" to "being": these practices should become part of the everyday culture, not another set of initiatives. Consistent coaching, common expectations, adult support, and preventative systems are essential. Ultimately, their message is that healthy schools begin with healthy relationships—and that connection and accountability can coexist. The Essential Point Behavior management shouldn't be something schools do to students after problems arise; it should be woven into how schools operate every day. Relationships, regulation, consistency, and prevention create the conditions in which students—and teachers—can learn and thrive. Social Media & Referenced Roots Behavior Framework The First 100 Days of School Connections Over Compliance

  3. Aug 25

    How Might We Rethink What Success Looks Like in Schools?

    Guest Dr. Tara Bishop has led the Perry Central Community Schools as superintendent for six years, but she's been part of the school community her whole life. Tara expands innovative career programs and grant-funded community services while cultivating a collaborative culture that supports teachers and administrators as the heart of every school.   As a former teacher turned speaker and happiness coach, Kim Strobel helps schools, businesses, and organizations prioritize happiness and well-being so they can overcome fears, discover joy, activate limitless potential, and boldly pursue their dreams. She is the author of Teach Happy. Summary Dr. Bishop describes Perry Central Community Schools as deliberately rethinking what education should prepare students to do. Rather than treating college as the only pathway to success, Perry Central gives every student access to career and technical education, internships, project-based learning, and opportunities to develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, and communication. Students choose pathways but can change direction, while internships and capstone experiences are tailored to their interests and aspirations. One striking example is a Habitat for Humanity project in which engineering students design a house, construction students build it, and the completed home goes to a local family—giving students authentic experience, technical knowledge, empathy, and a sense of purpose. Dr. Bishop acknowledges that innovation exists within significant constraints: standardized testing, traditional college expectations, limited resources, and teachers' lack of time for collaboration. She also emphasizes that innovative learning cannot replace foundational knowledge; students need something to draw upon when solving problems. Ultimately, she argues for an educational system that honors individual strengths, connects learning to meaningful purposes, and gives teachers the support and freedom to make that possible. The Essential Point Dr. Bishop's essential point is that schools should stop defining success by a single pathway and instead help each student discover how their particular strengths and interests can contribute meaningfully to the world. That requires both strong foundational knowledge and authentic opportunities to apply it. Social Media & Referenced Perry Central Community Schools www.StrobelEducation.com www.KimStrobel.com The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler

  4. Aug 18

    Constraints: How They Can Lead to Innovation

    Summary The episode explores how constraints can become a powerful catalyst for innovation rather than an obstacle to it. Drawing on my experience leading an innovation initiative in educational publishing, I describe "in-the-box innovation," a systematic approach that modifies existing products and resources instead of relying on unfettered brainstorming. The episode argues that solutions are often contained within the problem itself—a principle illustrated by a high-school program designed to address the shortage of teachers of color and by the World War II Corsair, whose dangerous landing problem was solved by altering lift on the opposite wing rather than redesigning the aircraft. Constraints, Jeff argues, clarify priorities, reduce the number of competing possibilities, and force creative thinking. He concludes by applying the principle personally, noting that limiting the information he consumes through social media has improved his attention and comprehension. The central idea Constraints aren't necessarily barriers to innovation—they can be the very conditions that make innovation possible. By limiting our options, constraints force us to focus, rethink what we already have, and discover solutions that might otherwise remain hidden. Connect / Referenced Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David Epstein Systematic Inventive Thinking Podcast interviews with Systematic Inventive Thinking

  5. Aug 11

    The Beauty of Seeing Beyond the Fish

    Guest Nick Parish is a writer, angler, and educator in Portland, Oregon. He's the editorial voice behind Current Flow State, a publication and member community aimed at helping people make fly fishing a bigger part of their life. Summary Fly fishing instructor, writer, and educator Nick Parrish joins me for a conversation that quickly moves beyond techniques and equipment into the philosophy of fly fishing and what it can teach about living well. Drawing inspiration from the writings of John Gierach, Nick argues that fly fishing is less about catching fish than cultivating attentiveness, curiosity, creativity, and meaningful relationships—with rivers, wildlife, fellow anglers, and oneself. Nick explains how his own teaching emphasizes observation before action, encouraging students to slow down, study the water, and immerse themselves in the environment rather than rushing to make the first cast. He advocates a minimalist approach to gear, believing that skill, versatility, and creative problem-solving matter far more than accumulating expensive equipment. Throughout the conversation, Nick and I reflect on several memorable John Gierach quotations, using them as springboards to discuss mindfulness, companionship, conservation, and the restorative power of time spent outdoors. The discussion also explores the ethical tension inherent in catch-and-release fishing. Nick acknowledges the paradox of loving fish while pursuing them, arguing that responsible anglers must balance that tension through conservation, habitat restoration, and sound fisheries management. He describes experiments such as fishing without hooks and emphasizes that the future of fly fishing depends on protecting the ecosystems that sustain it. Ultimately, Nick and I conclude that fly fishing is best understood as a creative, deeply attentive way of engaging with the natural world—one in which the journey, the place, and the experience matter far more than the number of fish caught. A key takeaway Fly fishing is a practice of attention. When we slow down, observe deeply, and engage creatively with the natural world, the fish become only one part of a much richer experience of connection, learning, and stewardship. References / Links Ihttp://www.currentflowstate.com/subscribe http://www.currentflowstate.com/immerse https://shop.currentflowstate.com/b/deschutes-ribbon-map-dra-benefit https://bsky.app/profile/nickparish.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/currentflowstate/ John Gierach Quotes

  6. Aug 4

    Serendipity: The Art and Science of Creating Smart Luck

    Today on Getting Unstuck Hi, I'm Jeff Ikler, host of the Cultivating Curiosity podcast. This summer, I'm periodically releasing mini-episodes of "Cultivating Curiosity." In about 10 minutes, I'll dive deeper into a key point from a previously broadcast evergreen episode. The content in these mini-episodes is designed to be readily applicable to your life or work. Summary This mini-episode revisits Jeff Ikler's conversation with Dr. Christian Busch, author of Connect the Dots: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck, to explore why serendipity is far more than simple luck. Dr. Busch argues that serendipity is "smart luck"—unexpected opportunities that emerge when people actively connect unrelated ideas and act on them. The process begins with a trigger, an unexpected event or encounter, followed by a "bisociation," in which two seemingly unrelated concepts are linked. The final step is recognizing and pursuing an unanticipated opportunity that results from that connection. Jeff illustrates this process through several examples. The episode concludes with Dr. Busch's insight that self-limiting beliefs—fear of rejection, imposter syndrome, or feelings of inadequacy—often prevent serendipity from unfolding. By reframing the greater risk as the regret of never acting, people become more willing to pursue unexpected possibilities. Jeff ultimately argues that awareness, curiosity, and courage allow us to recognize and cultivate the hidden opportunities that life continually presents. Guest Dr. Christian Busch is the author of The Serendipity Mindset and an internationally known expert in the areas of innovation, purpose-driven leadership, and serendipity. He is the director of the CGA Global Economy Program at New York University (NYU), and also teaches at the London School of Economics (LSE). He is a co-founder of Leaders on Purpose and the Sandbox Network and a former director of LSE's Innovation Lab. He is a member of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Expert Forum, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and on the Thinkers50 Radar list of the 30 thinkers "most likely to shape the future. The central idea Serendipity isn't something that simply happens to us—it is something we help create. By remaining curious, connecting unexpected dots, and acting despite uncertainty, we greatly increase the likelihood of discovering opportunities we never could have planned. Connect / Referenced Book: The Serendipity Mindset Twitter: @ChrisSerendip LinkedIn: Christian Busch Book: Meaningful Coincidences

  7. Jul 28

    425: What is Your Default Thinking Pattern Under Pressure?

    Guest Dr. Melissa Hughes is a keynote speaker, author, and Human Potential Alchemist who helps people understand how the brain works so they can work, lead, and live better. With a doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction and decades of experience translating neuroscience into practical strategies, Melissa has become a trusted voice for organizations looking to improve leadership, communication, performance, and culture. She is the creator of the Cognitive Blueprint™, a neuroscience-based assessment that reveals how your brain naturally processes information, makes decisions, solves problems, and responds under pressure. Rather than labeling who you are, it helps you understand how your brain works so you can communicate more effectively, lead with greater intention, and perform at your best. Melissa is also the creator of Wired for Success, an online learning experience that combines neuroscience, live coaching, and practical tools to help participants build better habits, strengthen resilience, improve decision-making, and create lasting personal and professional change. Whether she's on stage, writing, or developing new learning experiences, Melissa's mission is simple: make neuroscience personal, practical, and powerful. Summary Melissa Hughes returns to the microphone to discuss her new Cognitive Blueprint, a neuroscience-based assessment designed to help people understand how their brains naturally think and behave—especially under pressure. Rather than categorizing personalities, the Cognitive Blueprint identifies "neuro efficiency patterns," or the thinking strategies our brains default to when stress and cortisol push us into survival mode. Melissa explains that these patterns develop over time through repeated experiences, learning, and reinforcement, making them adaptable rather than fixed. Drawing on her own tendency to generate endless ideas without always finishing projects, Melissa illustrates how recognizing our default thinking patterns allows us to interrupt unproductive habits before they take over. She describes how increased self-awareness re-engages the brain's prefrontal cortex, enabling better decision-making, planning, and collaboration. Jeff and Melissa explore how understanding these cognitive patterns can improve teamwork, leadership, communication, and even personal relationships. They also discuss the implications for education, arguing that schools often ignore the neuroscience of learning by expecting students to perform their best while under significant stress. Melissa contends that curiosity is one of the most powerful ways to build new neural pathways throughout life, helping people move beyond automatic thinking and develop greater cognitive flexibility. The conversation concludes with a broader discussion of happiness, success, and gratitude. Melissa challenges the traditional formula that hard work leads to success and then happiness, arguing instead that cultivating happiness first creates the neurological conditions that allow people to work harder, perform better, and ultimately achieve greater success. A key takeaway Our brains automatically fall back on well-established thinking patterns when we're under pressure, but those patterns are not permanent. By understanding how our brains naturally operate and approaching challenges with curiosity, we can interrupt unhelpful defaults, think more effectively, and work better with others. References / Links www.melissahughes.rocks Subscribe to receive Neuro Nugget The Cognitive Blueprint™ Wired For Success

  8. Jul 21

    Telling the Story You Can't Forget

    The story behind this episode The story I relate in this episode emerged when, in September 2019, I walked some of the World War I battlefields in Belgium and France with my guide, Iain McHenry. As we walked along where a trench had existed during the war, Iain told me the story of an archaeological dig that recovered and eventually identified the remains of a British soldier who was killed there in November 1914 in a German mortar attack. The story has stayed with me because of how the soldier, Richard Lancaster, was finally identified and because there are literally thousands of other Richards who've never been found. Rather than tell the story as a straight historical narrative, I wanted the piece to have a distinct voice, so I chose to write it from the perspective of Richard's unique dog tag, which led to his identification. After we visited the site where Richard was found, we visited where he was later buried. (see the photo) Our final stop on this part of the journey was the nearby Principals Cindy House is the author of Mother Noise, a memoir in essays and a regular opener for David Sedaris on his tours across the country. She teaches nonfiction at the Gotham Writers Workshop. She also offers private writing classes. Cindy is my writing coach, and our Friday meetings are a high point of my week. This essay came out of a prompt she suggested: "Write about a headline that never left you." She epitomizes good teaching: she is quick to challenge me to "dig deeper for my real story," offers sound suggestions, and then praises me when I hit a strong note. I can't imagine taking this writer's journey with anyone else. When we had completed the essay, I asked her for her thoughts on producing an audio version. Unexpectedly, she was quick to offer her voice. You can't see me smiling, but trust me, I still am. Iain McHenry was born in Belfast and, after leaving school, joined the British Army, embarking on a career that took him all over the world. He was stationed in Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada, the Falkland Islands, and Belgium, and he has completed operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone. He has always had a passion for WW1, and after leaving the army, he started his own business in Belgium, working as a WW1 researcher, battlefield guide, and published author.

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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.

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