Curious Minds

CM 196: Kat Vellos on Mastering Friendship

I’ve spent a lot of time talking to guests about our relationships at work. For example, we’ve discussed how to listen better, how to navigate conflict, and how to influence others, just to name a few. What I’ve spent less time talking about are the relationships that go beyond work. That’s why I invited Kat…

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CM 195: Vanessa Bohns on How We Influence Others

One of the messages our culture delivers is “not enough.” Not clever enough. Not busy enough. Not successful enough. It’s a cultural mantra that beats just below the surface of many conversations, especially the ones we have with ourselves. That’s what’s so refreshing about Vanessa Bohns’ book, You Have More Influence Than You Think: How…

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CM 194: Joe Keohane on the Benefits of Talking to Strangers

I have a confession to make. I enjoy talking to people I don’t know. I like learning about them and hearing their stories. I’m sure it explains why I started this podcast nearly six years ago. Yet I know a lot of people who avoid talking to strangers. And if, for any reason, they have…

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CM 193: Deborah Stone on How Data Can Lead Us Astray

Numbers have power. They convey certainty. For example, when we know whether cases of Covid-19 are rising or falling, we feel like we have more control. Like we’ve got the answer. Yet numbers can be slippery too. Sure. Counting the number of people in a sports stadium is objective. But what about race totals in…

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CM 192: Leidy Klotz on Doing More with Less

So often, when we try to solve a problem, we focus on what we can add. Let’s say you’re moving to a smaller space. Your first thought might be to research shelving or rent a storage unit. But what if, instead, you subtracted? What if you thought about what you’d sell, donate, or just throw…

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