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, listen as we look at the familiar from a different angle or something new as a possibility to consider.
“Attack!” Author Bill Whiteside discusses “Operation Catapult,” Winston Churchill’s controversial decision to strike the French fleet in the harbor of Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria, in July 1940, so that it wouldn’t fall into German hands. Whiteside argues that history becomes meaningful when we move beyond headlines and dates to understand the personalities and moral dilemmas that shape decisions and events.
Read MoreTom Red shares how adventure, meditation, and Japanese aesthetics have shaped his photography and writing—revealing how awe-inspiring landscapes can reconnect us with vitality, acceptance, and a deeper relationship with the natural world.
Read MorePodcaster Matthew Collins explores how WWII veterans shaped their children—often through silence—revealing themes of stoicism, discipline, trauma, and generational change in a world increasingly distant from wartime memory.
Read MorePaul Knowles, the Assistant Director at the Museum of Northwest Colorado, in Craig, Colorado, shares artifacts from the museum’s collection—from dinosaur tracks to outlaw letters—to reveal a tougher, more complex West than Hollywood portrays, highlighting resilience, survival, and historical truth.
Read MoreDr. Barb Vokatis explains how therapy dogs in schools reduce anxiety, improve focus, build kindness, and spark student engagement—arguing animal-assisted education should be a scalable, low-cost support for learning and well-being.
Read MoreWriter and teacher Hurley Winkler discusses journaling, The Artist’s Way, creative resistance, leaving social media, ADHD, and why accountability, courage, and a writing community matter in sustaining a creative life.
Read MoreWriter Heather Lende reflects on her craft, community, and the power of observation, exploring how place, relationships, and deep listening shape her writing—and why storytelling can be an act of service rather than mere self-expression.
Read MoreJeff and Adam Bronstein, the Oregon Director of the Western Watershed Project, dive deep into a conversation about public lands, livestock grazing, environmental activism, and why rethinking land management—and resisting extractive pressures—are essential to restoring ecosystems held in common.
Read MoreA conversation with April Obersteller, co-founder and CEO of And, a consulting organization that stresses the business focus on external and internal customer experiences to drive organizational success. Long-term success requires rejecting either-or thinking and investing deeply in people alongside performance.
Read MoreJeff and Hal Herring, an award-winning journalist, engage in a wide-ranging conversation on threats to public lands, the history behind privatization efforts, and why citizen engagement remains essential to protecting America’s shared natural heritage.
Read MoreJeff Ikler reflects on year-end book lists, reading as curiosity, connection, and resistance, and why thoughtful, attentive reading—especially by podcast hosts—deepens conversations, honors authors, and nourishes both mind and spirit.
Read MoreWhy are school children more anxious, aggressive, and shut down than ever before? We first heard answers from educators Tamara Neufeld Strijack and Hannah Beach in April 2020. Hannah Beach takes us into the present in this update episode.
Read MoreThis episode reflects on the Apollo 8 mission's iconic "Earthrise" image in late December 1968 and the turbulent year that preceded it. It highlights the enduring challenges of inequality, collective problem-solving, and environmental stewardship we still face today.
Read MoreAs we approach the end of the year, I want to thank you, my listeners. Your interest and support allow me to continue this show. This episode recaps 2025 in three parts:
Part One: The three episodes you listened to the most.
Part Two: All the episodes were important, but one was particularly special to me.
Part Three: The three episodes that aired before 1/1/25, you listened to the most.
A young artist’s business sparks a full youth-entrepreneurship program teaching kids financial literacy, problem-solving, leadership, and adaptability—while challenging assumptions about what children can create when adults let them “do it now.” Executive Director of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs, Leah Ellis, and Assistant Board Director, Melody Ellis, give us the details.
Read MoreJon Gluck reflects on living with incurable cancer, the strain it places on relationships, the challenge of uncertainty, and the healing power of fly fishing, offering wisdom on resilience, empathy, and intentional living.
Read MoreHunter Seim discusses three decades of managing public lands for the Bureau of Land Management, balancing wilderness preservation with resource extraction, livestock grazing with wildlife protection, and navigating conflicts that inevitably leave one interest group disappointed.
Read MoreFly-fishing guide Spencer Seim reflects on nature, adaptability, and stewardship, revealing how rivers teach quiet lessons about humility, curiosity, and connection—to self, others, and the living world.
Read MoreDr. Karen Sobel-Lojeski cautions that technology and AI deepen “virtual distance,” the measurable sense of separation people feel despite being physically close, a phenomenon driven by technology-mediated communication. Virtual distance has the strong potential to erode human connection; therefore, she urges educators to prioritize relational, emotional, and social learning as the core of education.
Read MoreJodi Scott shares Green Goo’s story—its plant-based mission, family foundation, near collapse, and rebirth—revealing how true resilience means slowing down, staying present, and leading with purpose and compassion.
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