Lynn Borton
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choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Lynn Borton
@choosetobecurious.bsky.social
110 followers 160 following 290 posts
Producer & Host of Choose to Be Curious radio show/podcast - we talk about research and theory, but mostly it’s conversations about how curiosity shows up in work and life. choosetobecurious.com
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choosetobecurious.bsky.social
On this day for gratitude, slow down to the speed of wonder.

Join me and @johnmuirlaws.com in some intentional curiosity: lynnborton.com/2025/11/27/c...

@wildwonder.bsky.social
a small footpath winds through tall grasses
November 27, 2025 at 12:07 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"Slow down to the speed of #wonder," says the generous, joyful naturalist & educator @johnmuirlaws.com co-founder of @wildwonder.bsky.social

Nature journaling isn’t about the journal, it’s about the journey.

#curiosity #art #science

lynnborton.com/2025/11/27/c... #curiosity #choosetobecurious
Curiosity & Nature Journaling, with John Muir Laws
"Slow down to the speed of wonder." ~ John Muir Laws. This is an episode about nature journaling, but Jack would be the first to say: it isn't about the journal, it's about the journey. He's developed...
lynnborton.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:40 AM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
A #curiosity practice pro tip for the holidays from Ashley Kirsner, founder of Skip the Small Talk:

Ask, "what was that like for you?"

An invitation to go deeper -- or not -- and a low-risk way to keep the conversation going.

Link to full curiosity conversation below.
High-rise buildings in a futuristic city emerge from clouds. Across wks are words "Curiosity Practice: Ask, "what was that like for you?""
November 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Some timely #curiosity research and advice. [gift link] wapo.st/48aZHui
Column | Defuse political tension in your family with one simple question
A common misperception is fueling political arguments. But new research shows it’s possible to correct it, in ourselves and our political foes.
wapo.st
November 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"It's really hard, unless you've been actively practice it, to be curious when you're not feeling safe," said my wise guest Ashley Kirsner founder of Skip the Small Talk.

Great convo re having meaningful conversations -- starting with complete strangers.

PLUS: Great tips for the holidays. Link ⬇️
a dock on a lake with mountains in the background and a parasailed up in the sky. Across the image is written, "It's really hard, unless you've been actively practice it, to be curious when you're not feeling safe."
November 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Enough with the polite, front parlor pablum of the past — and onward toward rich #discussion, mindful discourse, self-disclosure, and – dare I say it? – #curiosity!

Enter Skip the Small Talk.

lynnborton.com/2025/11/20/s...
Skip the Small Talk, with Ashley Kirsner
Enough with the polite, front parlor pablum of the past -- and onward toward rich discussion, mindful discourse, self-disclosure, and – dare I say it? – curiosity! Wanting to do something about the ep...
lynnborton.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:40 AM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"Throughout all my years of teaching and making new works for the theater, I realized how you really have to be curious about life. More than anything, it's about life, about living, about people." ~ renown #playwright Stan Lai

Listen here: lynnborton.com/2025/11/13/c...
November 15, 2025 at 4:56 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"In starting to understand how to get to what you need to know, you have to first start with knowing what you don't know." ~ Stan Lai

Playwright Stan Lai & I talk about #creativity, #curiosity and the power in knowing what you don't know...

Listen here: lynnborton.com/2025/11/13/c...
Old Chinese tea pots are lined up against a wall. Above them are the words, ""In starting to understand how to get to what you need to know, you have to first start with knowing what you don't know."
November 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"Everything is our teacher." ~ Stan Lai

Playwright Stan Lai's warmth and wisdom just kept coming in our conversation about the practice and mastery of creativity -- what he calls "creativitry".

I hope you'll listen: lynnborton.com/2025/11/13/c...
An aged bamboo fence recedes into the background. Across the image are the words, "Everything is our teacher."
November 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Playwright and director Stan Lai has #theater companies in both Shanghai and Taiwan and his book on creativity has sold a 1,000,000+ copies in Chinese. We talk about his concept of "creativitry", the practice and mastery of #creativity -- & where #curiosity fits in.

lynnborton.com/2025/11/13/c...
Curiosity & Creativitry: The Know-How, Practice & Mastery of Creativity, with Stan Lai
“Creativitry”, writes legendary playwright Stan Lai in the preface to his new book of that name, "Doesn’t exist as a word. Just as all creative things do not exist -- until they do. "Rhymes with Artis...
lynnborton.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"How can we be in #community together and give each other access in a way that will foster greater connection and will result in the best interaction possible?" ~ Qudsiya Naqui

listen: lynnborton.com/2025/11/06/c...
A dock reaches out toward lake horizon with mountains in the distance.
November 11, 2025 at 8:53 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Today is a special milestone for Choose to Be Curious. On this date three years ago the show debuted on Radio Asheville - WPVM 103.7.

Thank you WPVM for all that you did and do for me, curiosity, and community radio around the country! #LPFM #choosetobecurious #gratitude
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"Being in disability," says law professor and #disability advocate Qudsiya Naqui, "has stripped away my tendency to make assumptions...and rather than assuming, #listening ...Really trying to understand what someone's human bodily, mental experience is."

lynnborton.com/2025/11/06/c...
A golden mowed field disappears to the horizon with a vidid blue sky and fluffy clouds. Across the whole image are the words "Being in disability has tripped away my tendency to make assumptions...and, her than assuming, listening...Really trying to understand what someone's human, bodily, mental experience is."
November 7, 2025 at 12:45 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
How might understanding the experiences of #disability help us be more #curious about our own and others’ minds and bodies?

And, most importantly, how might any of that help us be #kinder and more #patient with ourselves and each other?

Qudsiya Naqui has thoughts.

lynnborton.com/2025/11/06/c...
Curious in Body & Mind, with Qudsiya Naqui
How might understanding the experiences of disability help us be more curious about our own and others' minds and bodies? And, most importantly, how might any of that help us be kinder and more patien...
lynnborton.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:40 AM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Election Day all around the country. Take a little advice from some wise high school students I knew back in the day...

VOTE!

#vote #howtochangetheworld #choosetobecurious #WOFA
November 4, 2025 at 1:36 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
I had to sit with this one for a while.

"To use connection as a tool, connection can't be the goal," says Brian Fretwell. What do you think?

Catch the entire conversation here: lynnborton.com/2025/10/30/c...
A bright blue sky shows through a network of wires and stretched geometric canvases, with the words "To use connection as a tool, connection can't be the goal."
November 2, 2025 at 3:49 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"There's something different that happens when another human is asking you the question," Brian Fretwell assured me. And I think he's right. Very cool things happen when we're in curious conversation with one another...

I hope you'll listen: lynnborton.com/2025/10/30/c...
Only the lower half of two women's bodies are visible as they walk along a sun-drenched boardwalk together. Their shadow stretch toward the viewer, the beach is behind them. Across the boardwalk are the words, "There's something different that happens when another person is asking you the question."
November 1, 2025 at 8:33 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Brian Fretwell’s work grows out of a rich mix of neuroscience, anthropology, leadership and self-interested curiosity.

Rather than obsessing about where we fell short, he encourages us to learn from our successes instead.

The secret is connection.

lynnborton.com/2025/10/30/c...
Curiosity & Finding Good, with Brian Fretwell
Brian Fretwell's work grows out of a rich mix of neuroscience, anthropology, leadership and what you might call self-interested curiosity. Rather than obsessing about where we fell short and consoling...
lynnborton.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Curiosity has consequences -- and, happily, once you see some of the delights others have noticed, you can't not see them as well!

This is among the many delights of PechaKucha. Check out my conversation about curiosity at PechaKucha Night Knoxville: lynnborton.com/2025/10/23/c...
What appears to be a can of red paint spills down stone steps -- but it is an art installation. "Once you see it, you can't not see it." is written around the edges of the picture.
October 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
PechaKucha Night Knoxville is using #curiosity to build #community, 400 seconds at a time.

lynnborton.com/2025/10/23/c...
Curiosity at PechaKucha Night Knoxville, with Lila Honaker & Matthew DeBardelaben
What if there were a mechanism – a format – that kept novelty high, provided some assurance that the information being imparted was important (at least to someone), and that might tap into things we k...
lynnborton.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:35 AM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"You don't know unless you go."

On summoning our courage and curiosity to overcome whatever barriers there may be. #choosetobecurious

Great convo with Birdability's own Cat Fribley: lynnborton.com/2025/10/16/b...
October 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
One day I will walk some of these routes….
slowwaysuk.bsky.social Slow Ways @slowwaysuk.bsky.social · Oct 3
Up for helping with #SlowWays this weekend? This map shows 900 routes across Britain that need just one more good review to be verified🐌✅⭐️❤️

Could you check one... or even a trail of routes? And inspire others to follow in your footsteps?

Take look:
beta.slowways.org/user/waylist...
October 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
"Curiosity is the antidote to hopelessness," and other wonderful insights from Birdability executive director Cat Fribley in this delightful conversation about making curiosity accessible. I hope you will listen: lynnborton.com/2025/10/16/b...
"Curiosity is the antidote to hopelessness." in bright in pink letters on a deep turquoise background
October 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Where's your sit spot?

Where do you go to sit and observe the world around you?
It doesn't have to be fancy, needn't be much. But you'll be surprised by the rewards you'll reap.

Lovely convo with Birdability's own Cat Fribley on Making Curiosity Accessible: lynnborton.com/2025/10/16/b...
Stool with thin metal legs and a large wood seat is backlit by sunlight on a balcony. Though the balcony railing buildings across the street are visible.
October 16, 2025 at 11:38 AM
choosetobecurious.bsky.social
Cat Fribley of Birdabilty has some great thoughts on what accessibility around curiosity really means and entails.

Birdablity Week (Oct 20-26) celebrates birders with disabilities and other health concerns - and has something for everybody and EVERY BODY.

lynnborton.com/2025/10/16/b...
Birdability & Making Curiosity Accessible, with Cat Fribley
I was delighted to sit down with accessibility advocate and Birdablity executive director, Cat Fribley to explore the lessons to be learned from the organization -- and from Birdability Week, a week f...
lynnborton.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:59 AM