The Curious Krewe Podcast
One question, many voices. Curious Krewe invites real people into thoughtful, listening-first conversations that turn curiosity into connection.
The Curious Krewe Podcast
Curious Origins: Our Curious Beginnings
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In this origin-story deep dive, we share how a small idea in New Orleans grew into the Curious Krewe: a monthly gathering where one honest question invites many voices, and respect consistently beats being right.
We talk through the experiments that didn’t fit, the simple choices that did, and the unexpected momentum that followed. Along the way, we ask bigger questions: Is curiosity a teachable skill? How does it spark empathy? What makes it contagious?
We also unpack practical tools for anyone wanting to start their own Krewe, and look ahead to curious future possibilities.
If this story stirs something in you, pull up a chair. Subscribe, share this episode with a curious friend, and leave a review telling us the one question you’d put on the table next.
If this sparked something for you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review or text us through the link above with the question you want us to explore next.
Want to meet the Curious Krewe in person? Here is your formal INVITATION.
Want to learn how to start a gathering in your city? You can text us HERE.
Until then, Stay Curious!
Do you ever wish for a place where you can ask real questions without a fight? Do you ever want to sit with people who see the world differently than you and still feel connected? Do you ever crave a circle that listens more than it lectures and leaves you a little more human than when you arrived? If this is you, welcome to the Curious Crew Podcast. One honest question with many voices and with real connection. It's where we listen first and we practice curiosity with kindness and then become curious friends together. So without further ado, let's get curious. Hey all, my name is Sam. That makes you you and welcome to the Curious Crew podcast, where we believe curiosity leads to connection. Each episode we pose one curious question, voted on by the Curious Crew to our panel of curious people, and we get curious about their thoughts and perspectives and grow into curious friends together.
SPEAKER_00:Hey everyone, Colette here, and for this episode, we're doing something a little different. We're going to do the episode that should have been the first episode.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And discuss what is our origin story of Curious Crew? What has been surprising and what is does the future look like? Our guests today will be a little different too, since all three are technically the founders of Curious Crew.
SPEAKER_04:Well, we still have a tradition, though. So just like we do every month in person, uh, to get us warmed up, we kick things off by having the folks sitting around the table share their name and their answer to the curious quickie. Ready? And this is torture for many of the people at this table. What's your personal theme song? Uh you want me to go first? Go for it. It's easy for me. It's Cage the Elephant, Ain't No Rest for the Wicked. Easy. You know that song? Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's what I feel like. I like that.
SPEAKER_01:That song is like Embodies Your Everyday.
SPEAKER_04:Embodies My Everyday. Yeah. Yes. And I'm just like, yep. It's happening because it's my fault.
SPEAKER_00:I don't even remember all the lyrics. I can mostly just hear the melody.
SPEAKER_04:Oh, it's catchy. But it's basically about um oh I'm trying to remember. It it's kind of in a way, it's it's there's a lot of ironic stuff going on in the lyrics. But it's just like, hey, you know, you gotta do what you gotta do, gotta keep moving, gotta keep going. You know. But yeah. It's just my way to slough off my m baneful existence sometimes, I think.
SPEAKER_00:Okay, because you just have it so hard. Okay.
SPEAKER_04:You have no my internet goes out sometimes. Yeah, you know how rough that is? My i my AirPods don't work right. It's a hard day. What's your theme song? What's your guys'? Come on. So you can I think we can judge you though.
SPEAKER_00:Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:You want to share your name too? Like who are you? I am Morgan. I I guess I'm an OG from the Curious Crew. You are. So been here since the beginning. Um I guess for theme song, I guess what I went with is what have I been listening to the most, or what do I sing a lot through the house? And so this might make everyone mad because it is a popular song. But Man I Need by Olivia Dean has just so catchy. It's so catchy. And I can't not sing it, and I can't not dance to it through the house. And so yeah.
SPEAKER_02:What's that?
SPEAKER_03:I'm Reese, a guest speaker. Can you sing a little bit? I guess I don't know.
SPEAKER_04:Cool. Um I will make a recommendation. I don't know if you should sing no.
SPEAKER_00:Um, gosh, how does it go? No, I can't even think how it goes. I was just listening to it before we got here. Well, really?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, already gave you the time and the place. Don't be shy. Oh. Here we go. Come be the man I need. Anyways, I'm once it pops in my head, it's it's in there for a good uh four hours. So also pretty great. I've been jokingly singing it to Sam. Yeah. So I'm like, give you the time and place Sunday. Yeah. We're getting married on Sunday.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, there's that. Yeah. But that's what's why I purposely picked this question mostly to antagonize her.
SPEAKER_00:Because yeah, because uh because that's what people who are about to get married should be doing.
SPEAKER_04:Duh. But no, because I see but but but Morgan has this thing where whatever song she's listening to, that's her favorite song. That's her theme song. Love songs. So yeah. Loves music.
SPEAKER_01:This one currently is on repeat, and yeah, I just feel like I'm singing it the most, so it's my theme song at the moment. I like it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:I approve.
SPEAKER_00:Um, from my like childhood theme song was wide open spaces because I really wanted to leave home real, real bad um by the chic. Uh and it's I actually learned it on guitar earlier this year. So that was fun. That's so great. Um, but when I was in a band at the VA, I I loved playing Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison. Oh, that's a good song. It's such a good, it's just a classic song. Um that I like to sing to whoever's my current girlfriend. So it gets used.
SPEAKER_04:But what if they don't have brown eyes?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's a good question. Or what do you mean? Like, have they always had some brown eyes? I've never dated somebody who didn't have brown eyes. I don't know.
SPEAKER_04:Are you serious?
SPEAKER_00:I'm pretty sure. God, I hope the person I'm currently dated. Maybe that's enough attention. Um But yeah, I do love that song, just in journal.
SPEAKER_04:Well, now I'm just gonna purposely look in their eyes next and be like, You're gonna test me. What are you looking at? Oh, I just got bad eyesight.
SPEAKER_01:You could just change the lyrics to fit the eye color of the person? No? Okay, maybe not. Yeah, maybe.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, I think what if it's hazel?
SPEAKER_01:If it's hazel, we can't have two syllables.
SPEAKER_04:What if they have two what if there's one of those people that have the two different colored eyes? What if they're all binos?
SPEAKER_00:Whatever then then you do what you do in color theory, you mix them together and everything makes brown. Oh, yeah, so brown eye. Then the day they all have brown eyes. Yeah. Okay. That's a valid point. Love it. Okay. So now that we're good and warmed up, we can move into our curious question for this episode. What is the origin story of Curious Crew? What has been surprising? And what does the future look like?
SPEAKER_04:So before we dive in, I I know this is going to be a different conversation than we normally have, but the curious code still applies here, um where respect always beats being right. We we listen up, we don't interrupt, um, we keep an open mind because it's how we grow. Uh we respond with curiosity, uh, which means we try to uh do our best. It's so hard, but to to when when when people are done sharing to actually ask a question instead of making a statement. Um and generally we just want to make this space safe for everyone, every time. Um and so with that out of the way, let's get curious. And once again, we're probably gonna need to break this up. Yeah, but uh so we'll start with the first one, which is what is the origin story of Curious Crew? And I probably should start since technically technically it was technically my idea that you like just we latched on to it to start with you. Well, I'd like with most of my ideas, they're still stupid, and uh, and then other people make them better. But uh yeah, because it wasn't even called Curious Crew before it was Curious Crew.
SPEAKER_00:Why y'all still in my part of the origin store?
SPEAKER_04:Oh sorry, but I'm not oh just move it on cut it out. But uh well I I have to go clear back to like just who I am as a person, is like I I'm a generally curious person. It's ever since I was a kid, I loved reading, I I loved learning, and and uh just there really wasn't nothing that was off limits for me to learn about. And I will admit being introverted and being you know a weird kid and and all that stuff, I I really wasn't too curious about people. Uh in fact, that's why I like books, you know, because they didn't, you know, have feelings and all those things. But um, but you know, as I got older, especially when um what's yeah, I know people and feelings are such a bother. But that but uh he doesn't feel like this. I don't really feel like that. I don't feel like that. Uh um, but uh and it really didn't happen. Uh I really didn't get super curious about people until after I um uh became a uh pastor uh in a church and in the Christian tradition. And and in that and sadly, it wasn't even until after several years after being that that I started to really um well, I mean, not to get too deep, but uh if I really believed that everybody was made in the image of God, that means everybody is has a small piece of the image of God, and so the only way I can actually ever know who God is is to know everybody. And so that's what made me real curious uh initially, uh to talk to people. And and actually that that it really changed the the whole way I interacted. I I I tended to ask a lot of questions with folks and did a lot less talking. In fact, all the stuff I did as a pastor, instead of just sitting up in the front and just talking all the time, I ended up having dialogue with folks, um, and which was was always so much more rich and and and better than anything I would have ever come up with. And then so fast forward a couple years, well, several years, um I I come to New Orleans and I was hired to uh well, I I was I was given a wonderful opportunity to um uh a church that was closing. They they wanted to say, hey, we don't have any idea what we're doing. We just want to do something and and you can do whatever you want. And I was like, really, whatever I want. And I was like, okay, buckle up. And and so one of the first things I did was, well, I just started listening to people and uh listening to what was on their mind, what you know, what were they struggling with, what were their hopes or their dreams, you know, where were the uh the needs, where were the wants. And you know, I did something I did hear a lot with folks of just the sense I had, and even for myself, I think, well, not I think Morgan and I actually talked about this a lot. Because it's weird moving into a city, you know, for the first time when you don't, you know, you think it's easy, and it's like, wait a minute, how do adults actually make friends? You know? Um, but we but it's ubiquitous. We we, you know, there was a lot of people like, uh, you know, we don't really have a lot of friends, don't know how to make friends, you know, and uh but then there was this other side where people are like, uh, I just really wish, you know, we could talk, you know, without like pissing somebody off or you know, getting into an argument or stuff like that. And and I started looking around and I found something that this person did that was structured around um discussing doubt, which I liked, I like what they were doing, but I was like, well, I don't want to I don't want to talk about that. That's not very interesting. Um and and actually we kind of we did our first wasn't technically the first thing we did was was still kind of like a yeah yeah, yeah, and it was still around that, but um, but I remember I walked away from I was like, ah, that's not feel right.
SPEAKER_02:I don't like that.
SPEAKER_04:And and I remember I was and I actually I don't remember, it was Colette and I were texting, and that's when I I think I said something about curiosity or you did, I can't remember which. And um, and that's when the idea for the curious crew, like the boom, it was right then and there. Uh that's how it happened. And I was just like, damn it, why didn't I think of that? You know, see, that's what I'm saying. I got crap ideas and everybody else makes them better. Um, but that's how that's where it started, and for me anyway.
SPEAKER_00:Um, and I can say a lot more, but but how long have y'all been doing the the Doubters Club before I c came into the picture?
SPEAKER_04:See, I that's what I'm thinking about.
SPEAKER_01:I think only like one meeting, and we just immediately knew you know this is good, but we think it can be better.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, well it just it didn't fit it didn't fit where we're at. And it didn't fit us. You know, I think a lot of time like what how do I say this? Even the premise of what that initial thing was, it was even though it was predicated on you know, trying to make friends and with people different with you and stuff like that, there was still I didn't like the connotation of there was still because it was even set up as you're you're you're it's a Christian and a non-Christian or somebody from a different faith tradition get together. And I was like, well, why do we have to do that? You know, why does it have to be that? And and especially in New Orleans, which is so amazingly diverse, uh, is like it just seems to be so limiting.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:And and that's when and and really I think it was the first conversation that kind of was like, what started off was why do you why do you think the way you think the way you think was our first question we discussed, which was still in the doubt focus.
SPEAKER_01:But then I yeah, I think it just led to us.
SPEAKER_04:What was um uh AJ and uh oh JJ and Michael JJ and Michael, yeah, that was Yeah, and and I remember do you remember when we left it was it was just me and Morgan, it was uh uh JJ and Michael. You came in at the last Colette came in at the last minute. But man, that that went everywhere. Yeah, the conversation was like we we talked about childhood woos, we were from another country, uh, and it just went all over. And I was like, I don't know what that was, but that was wonderful.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it was bigger than what we had anticipated.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:I just found the text conversation.
SPEAKER_04:Oh, you did?
SPEAKER_00:December 4th. It is now December 9th, so December 4th of 2024. You said, so been playing with the name change and stuff for Doubters Club, what do you think? And then you gave uh the original name Curious People Collective, which is a mouthful.
SPEAKER_02:Oh hot garbage.
SPEAKER_00:God. Um it's okay. It did, but it was yeah, it was good. And um so yeah, we were just kind of popping around different ideas, and uh and but crew just kind of came up like come on, we're in New Orleans, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:New Orleans.
SPEAKER_00:Of course. So but yeah, so December 4th was when we So that was okay. And that's when JJ and and um Michael came to their first meeting, was around the same time.
SPEAKER_04:Wow, what a blast. Um tip so really technically when we had our last get together.
SPEAKER_01:It was a one year.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, it was a one year. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Look at that.
SPEAKER_04:We weren't lying.
SPEAKER_01:We weren't I knew it was right.
SPEAKER_00:Um but yeah, that's around the time I think uh my first meeting was in that November, right before that. And we had just met you know, not maybe a month before you had come to Auschnur because really it was that soon?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah. Wow.
SPEAKER_00:Was like the main thing that you told me about. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think y'all were just starting it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And uh I was like, okay, that sounds cool. Um I and I came because I was like it made sense like you had made such an effort to connect with me that I was like, I want to reciprocate that. Um and it would be nice to have more, you know, adult friend clergy friends, that sort of thing. Because at that time in my life, um I didn't really have a ton of friends. And I'd lived here in New Orleans, I think by that point almost three years, and I was like, I had friends, but no one particularly close, you know. Um, and my solo clown show had just taken taken off and reconnected me with people. So like during this season of my life, I made most of the friends I have now are the friends that I made during that season, with the exception of maybe a handful.
SPEAKER_02:Wow. Wow.
SPEAKER_00:I did not know that. Yeah. And so it was just like I think it was just the timing that I needed. Um and the idea of Doubters Club, I wasn't against it because I am a doubter. Um and I think by that point I had. Um but by that point I had like uh started stepping away from the church context completely. And um just my process of of you know coming out and transitioning in that community, and it was just like a big burnout thing. But you you didn't feel like other clergy. Because normally I don't like hanging out with other clergy.
SPEAKER_04:Neither do I.
SPEAKER_00:They're boring. Um they're stuffed shirts, you know. It's just like, can we talk about literally anything else? Um and so the idea of Daughters Club isn't I was kind of like I felt quite neutral about it, but I really enjoyed our first conversation. We mostly talked about books if memory serves. Oh, yeah. Well, probably I probably hijacked that conversation.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Well, no, all three of us are avid readers. Yeah. So it makes sense that's where we landed in conversation. Um, and dietary restrictions, because she and I both have weirdo dietary restrictions.
SPEAKER_01:So it's also that was my first time meeting you, Columbia. Yeah, that was the first time. So it was also probably somewhat of an introduction. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Wow.
SPEAKER_01:Anyways.
SPEAKER_04:I d I am horrible at remembering things. I can't believe I can't believe it was that compressed. Wow.
SPEAKER_00:That was a year ago. That um so yeah, I met you, I think in October or two.
SPEAKER_02:That sounds about wrong, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And then as doubters in November. Yeah. Doubters in November. I think you must have come to like the first or second meeting. Um and then you know, early December is when you started thinking about maybe this isn't quite it. And we started chatting about it. Um but cu the curious like curiosity piece is what's most interesting to me about the concept of curious crew. Yeah. Um because I don't want to talk about what I know. I don't want to talk about what I don't know. Like I don't want to hear people talk definitively about everything that they know. Um like I I want to be around people who are more uh uh, you know, uh open minded and more curious than that, more imaginative than that. Um and then when did how did y'all Morgan, are you the one that decided to post it on Meetup? Tell us about that.
SPEAKER_04:No, that was Who was that? That was actually the guy that um uh who did the he the Doubters Club thing. I I Talked I talked to him for several times.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, and he told us to put it on meetup.
SPEAKER_04:Well, no, he said you should try meetup. And I'm like, what the is that?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, we didn't know what it was.
SPEAKER_04:And and I was like, okay. And I and then literally, I remember I was looking at this. I think I was, I think I said this. I was investigating one day, and I was looking, I was talking to Morgan. I was like, this is bizarre. She's like, What? This is like so like so like people like just put random things on here, but then you just show up. I'm like, who the hell does that?
SPEAKER_00:In Oklahoma City, I use meetup all the time. So when you figure that out, I was like, oh, that makes so much sense. Because that's how I made friends in Oklahoma City before when I lived there for five years.
SPEAKER_02:I didn't know that.
SPEAKER_00:Um, and so I I did like swing dancing in Oklahoma City, um, craft nights, game nights. Like it was just a fun, easy way to meet other people in a setting that wasn't centered around drugs or alcohol or dating. Right. It's you know, meetup can be those things, but um there's o lots of options for you know more neutral settings.
SPEAKER_01:But putting it on meetup was a big deal. I mean, before that we were just kind of doing word of mouth, which is if we're doing word of mouth, you're only gonna bring in the people that you're immediately around, which for the most part are probably gonna be people who think like you. So kind of would defeat the purpose.
SPEAKER_04:Well, and also we had a pretty small sphere.
SPEAKER_01:We didn't know as in none.
SPEAKER_04:We didn't really have any friends.
SPEAKER_01:But I do think it was amazing, like putting it on meetup for the first time. And I'm pretty sure that first meeting we had twelve folks show up.
SPEAKER_04:Do you remember I was freaking out though? Because I was just like, because I posted it and then I got an email. I was like, somebody signed up. I'm like, what?
SPEAKER_01:Well, and I think actually like 24 people signed. Oh, 30, right? And this is when we learned meet up, only about half the people show up. So that's good to know. Because yeah, before that first meeting, we thought 30 people were gonna show up and we were just meeting in a little restaurant.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, I was like, we are not gonna be, and we we still didn't, we still maxed out where we were at.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, we did.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, at the vintage for sure. Yeah. That was a great night.
SPEAKER_01:No, that was cool. And I think like even seeing like, oh, this is a need in our community, like there are other people here who obviously also desire to be around people that are different than them. Um that there are wow, a lot of open-minded people out here, more than we may think. Yeah in the times where we can get frustrated and feel like no one around us is. Um, and so I think like just even that first meeting, having it um, and then even chatting with folks afterwards and then being like, wow, this was so great. Like this is what I needed, yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Morgan, did you have anything you wanted to add about the origin story? Sure. Yes. I do think like, yeah, I think in general, I feel like my immediate friends are people that tend to think like me, right? Tend to think similarly. You know, I mean, I I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing initially, you know, like we want to have be surrounded by people who yeah, it's easy, it's encouraging at times. You feel like, oh, if I need to throw this idea out, like you know the feedback's gonna be somewhat, I don't know what you would expect. Um, it's safe, right? It's safe.
SPEAKER_04:You don't have to explain yourself as much.
SPEAKER_01:You don't have to explain yourself as much. That is for sure true. But I I mean, I know, especially growing up though, like I've always been surrounded by um and have interacted with folks that are very different than myself. Um, and I've always been drawn to um really engage in conversation with people that are different than me. And so I was very excited about this idea and that switch when we kind of were like, okay, we're gonna switch from that focus of being doubt to, you know, let's just ask one question and see where it leads. Um, you know, bring, bring your thoughts, bring your experiences, um, just to hear, you know, um what people have to share. And so, yeah, I think for me, really in that what it looks like, I guess, in that origin story would be just that, I don't know, affirmation or like, oh, I think this is what people want. Like I can see, you know, and especially in a climate where things are very divisive, um, which, you know, we don't have to turn very far to see that or interact with that. We can just open up our phones. Um, and I think to try to create a space, like I had a desire to create a space, um, I don't know, where people feel like they can bring their thoughts um and that it would be safe for them. And I think, yeah, that is just something that was really, you know, it's always needed, but for sure, you know, in this time and for sure in our community. I think in general, like New Orleans is so diverse. Um, there are a lot of different um ideas, different perspectives, different life experiences and stuff, lifestyles. I mean, yeah, all of that. And so I think like to be able to bring a group of people, a very eclectic group of people together is just honestly a beautiful thing. And I think in that first meeting, too, I mean, we had all genders, all ages, all um races, ethnicities. I mean, it was it was just a truly diverse setting. And I just remember being like, this is it, like this is what we needed, this is what our community needs.
SPEAKER_00:And I think what's been surprising to me when I think back to that first meeting, how many of those people are still in Curious Crew? Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_04:I was actually legitimately think it's almost all of them.
SPEAKER_00:Almost all, yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:I want to say probably 10 at least at least 10 out of the 14 uh are still there. And they're you know so we had that we had an anniversary kind of end of the year celebration. It was the most disgusting day. It was raining torrential downpour. I was like, is anybody gonna come to this? Yeah. Um and it the the house was packed, and again, pretty much everyone who had, you know, 10 out of 10 of the people who'd been to that first one are still here. Um and I love seeing them kind of leading leading by example for the new folks and and like welcoming new people into the space. And they're so intentional about that. Oh yeah. Um and passing down that like hospitality to folks, that has been the most wonderful thing and surprising thing about Curious Crew is how how much ownership people have been taking of it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you know. I mean for sure. I mean, I think even um you know, with Brenda being like, I would like to host, you know, this get together at our house. So usually we meet at a brewery. I don't know if you've mentioned that on the previous podcast.
SPEAKER_04:No, not really.
SPEAKER_01:We just meet at a brewery, you know, it's open table, you don't have to know how many people are coming. It's pretty it helps for planning purposes to be in a space that's just large by nature. Um, but yeah, just even to extend, you know, her home and be like, I would love to host this. And we've had multiple people be like, can we donate money to chip in so that we can like help, you know, we have these fun name tags and lanyards because we're just so cool. I'm just kidding. It's um actually because the name tags normally don't stay because it's so humid in the world. It's so humid in New Orleans, so they the name tags don't stick on, yeah, that is fun. They don't stick on your shirt. So we were like, you know what? We're gonna make some fun lanyards, problem solved.
SPEAKER_04:No, that's what's funny, is like literally the singular problem we had for four months was those bleeping name tags.
SPEAKER_01:They fall off and no one knew who anyone was to have great.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah. And I I I was just so crushed every time. I was like, what are you doing? And I can't remember who came up with a lanyard idea on, but I don't know. That was a good idea.
SPEAKER_01:Honestly, somebody else, I'm sure. But uh yeah, I think that like own the level of ownership that you were saying, Cala, is like really encouraging. And um, yeah, just even the ideas that people have. Like I know we've talked with different folks and they've shared, like, oh yeah, it'd be great if we could add this, or have you thought about this? And people are taking ownership like of the group because you know, and that's like what it was designed to be. Like, okay, this is the a group for the community, and so the community is gonna form it. Like, sure, you know, Sam Colette, like, you know, you guys had this idea and you wanted to bring it to life, but you know, it's up for molding, and it's something that we can shift and alter, and yeah, make sure that's the same. Well, you're you're making me want it.
SPEAKER_04:Well, that was what was I'll tell you one more origin thing, and then but but it is it does like go into a surprise thing because I think uh you know, I've done a lot of events, a lot of events, and and I it it's kind of a and curious crew has really kind of changed my expectations around them because when you when you do things, when you do events, you do whatever, you're like, uh, no one's gonna come, or you just or you know, because I I've been through that already when you're like, oh, you know, I'm gonna do if we're gonna have the biggest thing ever, and it's just like, do people show up? And um, so it's like, yeah, no one's gonna show up, no one's gonna do this, no one's gonna do that. And even if they do show up, no one's gonna care, you know. And and then I remember it was even the day after, uh, even after you know, we had all that affirmation after the first meeting, you know, and I'm still riding high on that, and then I get an email that is a book. A book. I mean, it's and it was from Craig. Of course. Hello, Craig.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, hi Craig, hope you listen.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah. He probably isn't because Craig just won't do that.
SPEAKER_00:No.
SPEAKER_04:But that's the things I love about Craig. But um, but he he gave me, and you know, and that was the thing too. I'm used to I'm used to getting a lot of uh I you can't see me do it feedback from people, which is really criticism. You know, it's like you should have done this, you should have done that, you know, did you think about this? And um uh and of course they don't want to do anything, you know, they just want to tell you what you did wrong. And um, and I gotta tell you, it was the most gracious, affirming, and also really like not corrective, but helpful. Like, hey, did you think about this? Or I I've done this, and as a and I remember I reached back at him and I and I, you know, I responded equally as long as he did, and I said, But I would really love to talk. Like, can we talk? Because um he actually had his own meetup group that was a men's group that was really, really good. It lasted for years, and he had a lot of tips, so we sat down and and talked, and um and uh and he's and you know what he told me? I don't know if you guys know this or not. He actually said, I send these emails out all the time and no one responds.
SPEAKER_02:Wow.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, no one responds. And he but see, and that's the thing about what what I well why that why that really like tugged on my heartstrings is because this wasn't a BS email. Right. He took time to write it, it was very thoughtful, um, very caring, and um, and and the fact that he's done this to to help people out, and then no one's ever responded is like, well, shame on them. Because you are you have something really good. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, he's a gym. Oh yeah, gym of a cover.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, that's that's like it's people like that. And then what you said too, Morgan, well, and you too, Colette, is and I guess I should say once again, it's amazing what your bias is or what your perspective is, or like your milieu you've been in. And uh I mean, I'll go ahead and dish on the church, I don't care. Uh, but uh, you know, you're used to like you're around people that are supposed to be a certain way.
SPEAKER_01:Right.
SPEAKER_04:And they're not. And and you know, and especially when you're a a pastor, as opposed to just somebody that just is a you know, a person that goes to a church. And I'm just I'm talking in the Christian tradition. I don't necessarily know what it's like in any other faith tradition, um but I can just speak in in my tribe. But um then when you get to like actually get to hear people's messed up lives, you're like, oh, it's way worse than even what's going on. And um, and so in a weird way you approach this like, well, I'm not in the church world, I don't want to do this in the church world. This isn't even a really a church thing. This is a people thing, and so um boy, this is gonna be rough. If the church was rough, this is gonna be really rough.
SPEAKER_01:Right, right.
SPEAKER_04:100% opposite like 180 degrees opposite. No, the church is the worst of the worst, you know, and it's like and it well, it really makes me wonder, you know, it really makes me wonder like why that is, and um when it should be the exact opposite, right? It should be the exact opposite, and um and and just the caring people and the the the fact that I I almost never have to r actually say these rules as code. Never like it's it's like it's right there, everybody knows what to do. Um and and I would say that was I'll say this and I'll shut up. One of the the surprising and I just said this the other day, I think at the at the get the last gathering we had, was was I another thing I was anticipating was that we would have arguments. Because as as much as, you know, and I tried to be pretty benign about the questions uh in the sense of you know, like what is success and you know how do you define it? And um, what's another one? Uh well we did the how do you why do you think the way you think? We talked about uh forgiveness, stuff like that. But then I I thought, okay, okay, and it all went great. I was like, so let's let's poke the bear. You know, it's like well, so I asked the questions like, what are you passionate about? Like what what what what thing in the world are you passionate about and you want to do something about it? So I was like, okay, if we're gonna get a fight, this is it. This is the one. Not a single thing. And people got passionate, people got really passionate, and no one said, You're a crazy kook, or you know, you're a blue this or red that or you know, whatever. And that's just been the biggest surprise for me, I think, is like how I I don't even know how to say it really.
SPEAKER_00:Like people talk about things they seriously care about. Um but in it to me it's it's so non-defensive.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Right. The the folks at Curious Crew are in conversation with each other. Because when when I hear you talk about like people are gonna fight, I'm like, oh, everyone's defenses are up. Yeah, I don't know how I haven't really seen that much. No. I think I've seen, you know, people feeling us out and um feeling the temperature of the group.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And there's definitely people are are very mindful about what they say. Um, but I'll never forget the first meeting where the question was like, what's something that you wish people knew about you at first glance, but couldn't tell from looking at you, or something like that. Um and I was talking about my experience of gender, and there was someone there who said, like, I don't agree with that, but I want to understand more.
SPEAKER_04:Oh, I remember that.
SPEAKER_00:Oh and I was like, whoa, like that's amazing. Um that that this person felt like they could be honest about where their stance is, but also lean into their curiosity. Yep. And that person was at the annual thing, and I hadn't seen that person since that first meeting. Um, or it was either at the annual or a recent meeting. And they were like, Yeah, and they were like, Oh, I remember you from the first meeting. How are you doing? And was like, treating me like a human being. Um and it was it was just such a sweet thing. And so I've seen a lot of that where people are like, no, I don't and they'll be in response to each other and disagreeing with each other. Um, but nobody's trying to be no one's trying to be right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Right.
SPEAKER_00:Like people really do stick by that first rule of respect beats being right. Yeah. Um and I I don't think it's just because it's a rule that they respect it. I think it's because that's people are realizing like people know that that is best. If you want to be in a relationship, then being right can't be your first priority. Oh well, that's good.
SPEAKER_04:Man, don't don't be stepping on my business like that. Yeah, that's oh yeah, I remember that. Well, that was actually the f I remember that too when you should when you shared that. It was like you have no intrinsic sense. Yeah, I was like, I have never heard it anything close to articulate it like that.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:And I was like, and it I mean, unfortunately, you know, I try I wanted to stay present in the conversation, but of course my mind, my ADD mind is like, what is that even? Because I was like, I have no idea how it how I to not feel that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, which I think it did come up in conversation a little bit. Like we even started talking about that for a little bit, and people were like, Oh, I mean, when I, you know, my intrinsic self was the you're like I see myself in this way, and like it brought about conversation completely civilized. That's the other surprise.
SPEAKER_00:I wasn't tokenized in that conversation. Yeah, everyone at the table was then like, oh huh. They have I started asking themselves, like, do I have an intrinsic sense of gender?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And they were like, I don't know, because they don't know if I do. Yeah, it was and so it was like one person's curiosity became a wildfire for everyone else's curiosity. That's good. That was that's really good.
SPEAKER_04:I forgot that that was that was a game changer at that at that first meeting. Oh yeah. That was a good one.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, that's good. Yeah. So what else has been surprising? Do we want to stay on this or we want to talk about the future?
SPEAKER_01:Um, I do think something that's really neat is the amount, like I would say, mm-hmm I don't know if y'all would agree with me, but about it's about like 60 to 70 percent returners each week. Yeah. And about 40% new folks, I think it changes a little bit sometimes, but yeah. Yeah. Like you said, someone came like the first meeting, but then they came back, you know, several months later and they're still coming, you know, and so I think even seeing the value that people have put on it um in their desire to return, but even yeah, the amount of new folks that show up.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And yeah, I think like even their willingness to enter into a space that is so new. I think, oh gosh, what's so surprising? We had that one guy come who was only in town for three days. Oh yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. Like, I think he was here for work and he's like, you know what, what's going on? Opens up meetup and was like, this was the first thing, or this was the thing that intrigued him. He said the most important.
SPEAKER_04:Is that the dude from Canada? Is that what you're talking about?
SPEAKER_01:I think so. Yeah. I don't know. This is how does he happen to do that?
SPEAKER_04:It happens multiple times.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, but we'll have somebody who's like, This has intrigued me. Oh, like I've never seen something like that. Like I remember one person telling me, like, I hadn't seen like I visit and travel a lot for work, and I'll open up meetup and go and try something, but they had said like this had really piqued their interest, and they had never seen anything like it anywhere else. And I thought that was neat.
SPEAKER_04:I'm just so envious because I'm such an introvert.
SPEAKER_01:So I would never do that.
SPEAKER_04:I was just that's why I I laughed at what meetup is, and then you realize like I remember when uh JJ was Was talking about it and how he um he uses me to often to do because he's he's his activities. Oh I want to learn how to mountain climb or I want to learn how to you know water ski and so I'm gonna join this group. And he doesn't even really do it necessarily for friendships. Right. But I mean it you know it happens. But uh but there's a ton of people like that. Like I more than I ever thought there remotely was. I was like, well, what's wrong with me? You know, it's like because I I just never had any desire to do something like that. But there's people just do it like it's a like a normal Tuesday.
SPEAKER_00:Well, and it to me it makes sense. I have moved so many times throughout my life. And we we get people who are like, Yeah, I just moved here this week. Yep.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, right.
SPEAKER_00:I feel like every month we get at least one person who's like, Yeah, I just moved here this week. Um and I'm like, I get you. I so get that because in in the other parts of my life moves, it's been impossible for me to make friends. I lived in Oklahoma City for like four years before I made friends, like had any friends. And um it's probably the same thing in Dallas. Like it just I didn't I'm not I'm like you know, I'm an introvert too. I don't make friends that easily because I don't like chitter chatter or small talk. And I think that's what Curious Crew kind of gives people is a way to connect that doesn't necessarily involve benign small talk.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:You know? Yeah. We've got the deep introspective folks.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:But I won't say I I will say I do love Meet the Crew, which so we have Curious Crew once a month for the listeners, and then we have uh Meet the Crew, which is a second offering where people just come and like get to know folks. It's like a good way for people to join the group. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So they get the vibe.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Um and they then they can decide if they want to come back to have the deeper conversation. Yeah. And I've liked half I've liked both of the offerings.
SPEAKER_01:They're both very different and fulfilling in different ways.
SPEAKER_00:And like I'm curious, like, have y'all been keeping any like sense of number about how many people who come to meet the crew actually come to Wakurious?
SPEAKER_04:I mean, we have everything. What whether we've reached wherever we've analyzed it or not is another question.
SPEAKER_01:But do you I mean, people have gone to both. I don't think anyone's like only come to one.
SPEAKER_04:There's been some things like that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think part of it is, you know, also for the listeners, like the Meet the Crew is always on a Monday evening while our regular curious crew meeting is on a Wednesday evening. So I do, you know, with time conflicts and stuff, yeah. We get different people. We get different people. But I would say, I mean, I know at least I've heard people say, like, oh, I'm glad that this was the first thing I came to. I feel yeah, like safer or you know, I feel more like equipped even to go into the next meeting because now I know faces and I've interacted with people. So I it's like a a lower barrier to come in.
SPEAKER_04:Wasn't it Anne? Was that Anne? Yeah, maybe Anne came to like a few meet the crews.
SPEAKER_01:Before she came to a curious crew.
SPEAKER_04:Did I for some reason I don't know if she didn't know about the main one or maybe it just is and then we said, hey, you should come to this one, and then she came. Yeah. I remember she went to several Meet the Crews before she came to a Curious Crew. Yeah, I remember that.
SPEAKER_00:I I think there's so many people who have appreciated that like ramp into the deeper stuff.
SPEAKER_01:Which also was, again, something that was created by one of our members. So yeah, I think it was Brenda, yeah, because she was like, so in our regular meetings for Curious Crew, we break up into groups of six, um, or five or six really smaller groups just because we learned from that first meeting, we cannot discuss one question for 12, 14 folks. So we break up into these smaller groups. And ideally, you know, you would be with different people um each month, you know, try to get to know different folks. But yeah, Brenda had shared, you know, oh I I didn't get a chance to talk to this person, or I didn't get a chance to talk to this person. And so, you know, because of her feedback and thoughts, you know, that's how the meetup, like meet the crew um like formed because we were like, oh, let's just have a social time where people can interact beyond, you know, your group of six. And it was just amazing to see.
SPEAKER_00:And I find in that Meet the Crew, I get to know people's perspective why they think the way they think a bit more, because you hear more about what they do for work, what they're passionate about, like what their hobbies are, how they like to spend their time, who they like to spend their time with. So you get a like context for the people. That's a good point. It meet the crew, where you don't always get that incurious crew because we do kind of just launch into the question. Yeah. And usually the question does have need some con the answers to it does need some context. Sure. Yeah. Like why does somebody believe what they believe about forgiveness? That's gonna be revealing, right? But um I like that meet the crew element, not just to help welcome in new folks, but also to get to know, you know, what are their what are they curious about, what are um, what are their interests and why are those things important to them for sure.
SPEAKER_04:Well, that's what that's one more thing I'll say that's been surprising is once again, it it's funny how you create something and you have specific goals. Like, I want to be curious, you know, be you know, talk about things, and I want to have make friends. But then you actually don't think that's gonna happen. You like you just think, oh, you know, it might work, it might not. And I really didn't think uh well, I don't want to say that. I I almost like the friends part. I was like, I really hope this works out, but you know, I don't think it will. And I mean yeah, quite the opposite. Uh I mean it was friendships that for sure fall.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, yeah. And flourished.
SPEAKER_04:Oh yeah. I mean, I mean, I think about well, and that's what makes it that's what made me think about it, is like because you start to get to know these people and you're just like, oh, I don't want to sit at another table. I want to sit with you.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:And um, like I don't think we didn't you and I have not set, Colette have not set at a table. Morgan and I have almost never set at a table. The first the first meeting ever. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:And I think we've only besides the first meeting, maybe once maybe once fairly recently. And um what's it go in?
SPEAKER_03:This is recently.
SPEAKER_04:I don't wait.
SPEAKER_01:Well I do have to say there was like our second meeting, and that it was like somehow they all bonded over. There are a lot of single folks that come. I will say, and that makes sense. I mean, I could just see that, you know, like when you're married, your life is maybe a little you're it's a little more full. And so you're I mean, yeah, like I don't know. I probably would be less likely to go and meet up and be like, what are all these things I can do apart from my spouse? Like, I don't know, you just maybe less likely. But it was funny, one of our meetings we had. Um, I think like that was one of the topic of conversations where it came up like in their their little group and they all had chatted about like because there was a huge contention. I really all these single people.
SPEAKER_04:The side note, I almost can tell like what the algorithm for meetup is that particular month. You know, because it's like, oh, there's a lot of older folks here. Oh, there's a lot of people who are dating. Oh, here's uh like a smattering of uh young folks. It is it's it's I feel like it's the algorithm sometimes. I mean, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01:But to answer Yurice, I don't think anyone has formed a relationship yet.
SPEAKER_04:Well uh no.
SPEAKER_01:I wouldn't say I feel like I've seen someone between the side.
SPEAKER_04:I will say I do know that there are a few people who tried and it didn't work out.
SPEAKER_00:We won't yeah, it's not before that, so it makes sense that that necessarily wouldn't be but that's fine.
SPEAKER_03:But I mean, I'm not trying to turn this into curious crew New Orleans.
SPEAKER_04:I'm just I mean it'll happen. I will say, I will say this, you know, that's what I was gonna say is surprising about like the real friendships that happen because like um I think about that with Craig. Like I I I genuinely I mean he'll never hear this, so I'll be like, I mean, I love the guy. I mean, he's opened up my perspective and my mind so much, and you know, actually made me, even though uh he doesn't think anything like me, like almost we're almost polar opposite in how we think. He's asked so good questions. Yeah, like so good questions. He's a philosopher, and so like even in our last meeting, he uh somebody had said something about belief and truth, and and he went on this whole thing is like, you know, most things are beliefs, right? Like, there is no truth. And it's like, and it's like, what do you mean? And we got a mini philosophy lesson. It's like, you know, that there's a definitive answer to there, there's a there's an even or there's an odd number of grains of sand in the Sahara Desert, but nobody's ever gonna know that. And so you can say, I think it's even you or Reese will say, I think it's odd, but neither of you actually know, so it's not the truth, it's just something you believe. And I was like, I've been to seminary, I've I've I've studied, I've done I've never actually thought about that. But anyways, like genuinely be a friend to him. And then I what I've what I've loved to see is you know, I mean, I can just go on, like Brenda, um but then Chrissy.
SPEAKER_01:I was inviting her to shows and things, yeah. Oh, and that's yeah, that has been cool. Oh, sorry. No go ahead and finish for you. I yeah, I just feel like people have started to invite one another into other areas of their lives, so yeah, like shows going on or like they're participating in something and they brought them along. And so I think that's been cool. Like there's been a lot of like invitation into like just doing lives together.
SPEAKER_04:Well, that was it was funny. Uh a surprising fact, we have an inordinate number of librarians. Oh, yeah, that come so like side note when we were at somebody's birthday party from Curious Crew, uh there was uh some with another curious crew, well, a small contingent of curious crew people were there. And um uh and I found out that one one of the there's two librarians, and one is in New Orleans, one is in Jefferson Parish, and one of them has a tool that the other one, and they're literally got together that weekend to like so now they're working together doing stuff. That's cool. Yeah, and it's like who in a million years would have thought that? It's just that was so surprising and beautiful to me.
SPEAKER_00:And so it all kind of started. I just kind of want to overview how the trajectory is when and what this looks like. If you are listening and want to start your own curious crew, just dedicating one month or one day a month to meeting uh for the curious crew piece. The meet the crew is kind of good if you have time, but not necessary. Um we have it's post on meetup every month. Um we vote the question. Yeah, that's important. The the members uh who are in the crew vote for the question. Sam usually selects like three and then everyone kind of decides from there. And that's helpful to have like three and then and puzzle back the question in advance so they have like a month, you have some time to think about it. Yeah. And then um, we also have a group me where folks can sign up and keep getting reminders and like um they can vote on the question and do all of that through the group me. Um, and that's also how folks have been inviting folks to their events, volunteering, birthday party, social events, that sort of thing. Um and having some of that infrastructure has been really helpful just to continue the conversation beyond the meeting, and not everyone has to participate, but it's nice that people can like opt into that sort of virtual connection. So that's where we are. Are we ready to talk about where does our future look like?
SPEAKER_04:Oh, I want to hear from you guys first. I talked, I I have too much on my head. Too much.
SPEAKER_00:Well, ultimately, I think we should trust the group with whatever the group wants to do is where we go. And trust that process, what that's gonna look like. I don't know. And I that's what makes me excited. I don't like I don't want to know.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, I think like what's taken us to where we are this far is by listening to the group. And so it's almost like I don't want to have control over it. You know, like I don't want to be too particular in plans because I like want to see where it goes organically because that's you know. Yes, it has brought us this far.
SPEAKER_04:So I do think, you know, we've heard some things from, you know, folks of like, oh, it'd be nice to um, you know, maybe meet, you know, in smaller groups or like there's been some suggestions or thoughts, but yeah, well, like I the I mean, I think the one that's probably the most likely and the one I heard the most is probably an additional day.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Uh oh yeah Yeah, like a Sunday or a like something that's weekend thing. Yeah. So it's you know, with people with work or you know, whatever. Yeah. And something maybe not at night, but midday, you know. You know, I heard I that's that's something I've heard fairly um Yeah, recently. Yeah, recently from from more than one folk. Well of a good number of folks.
SPEAKER_00:And that probably works specifically to New Orleans. Like a lot of the things that we've done are contextual. Yeah. And I think if we were to move something to middays, because we have a lot of people who work nights, like service industries here. Um we're you know, uh the weekend. I I'm a little worried about but doing anything on the weekend though, because it's New Orleans is so packed with things to do. Oh, I know on the weekend and getting people to choose the curious people that does feel hard.
SPEAKER_01:It'll definitely be some trial and error for things out there. Yeah. See how it goes.
SPEAKER_04:It's just yeah, it's just well because and and mostly because of Christy. Because like you, yeah, because one of the uh one of the crew is is in school and and classes have kept falling on our knees. And of course, one of the things we changed was originally it was on th uh fourth Thursday, right? Fourth Thursday. And then everybody was like, Oh, but if you change it to, you know, fourth Wednesday, we can I can come. Oh yeah, that's great, that's great, that's great. And then so I was like, okay, I feel good. This is like pretty unanimous. And then uh I I said it out there, and literally Christy's like, that's the one day I can't go.
SPEAKER_01:And I'm like, Yeah, it's hard, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Well, and and one thing I will say, just kind of backtrack, like that's one of the other surprising things was there's and I won't get into it, but there's actually people who have come who are legitimately struggling with some uh like uh anxiety, social anxiety, even panic attacks, and they've used the crew, the curious crew as as a safe place to explore, yeah. And um and that's been uh I mean that just goes to show you how actually safe it is, which is so counterintuitive with what we're doing.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:I mean I I I have some uh there's always like little n nuggets that I like thinking about, like like um there's there's a couple people that are big readers, uh, and you know, there was the night, there was you know, just little rumblings about like what if we you know talked about a book. Oh yeah, yeah. Um I would like uh the one thing that uh I would think something more experiential is like, hey, um, and I'm just pulling out of my my behind here, like did you know that there's a uh a voodoo ceremony every uh I think it's every Sunday or is every something in in is it Congo Square or something? I think so. Yeah. And it's like anybody want to check that out? You know, it's like because I'm really curious about that.
SPEAKER_01:Or yeah, inviting other people into curious activities or curious things that yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, and or if somebody has uh and nothing's really like popped up. Or uh what was it? Um there was a a a couple people that there was a whole um uh there's there's experiences like to to experience certain cultural groups. Like there's a big uh Japanese culture uh um uh group that actually meets and it's like wouldn't it be interesting to like you know experience a different culture? Of course if as long as we're invited in. But um just different like like more activity things, like actually Yeah, doing things together. Yeah, and and then figuring out like what that what you know, maybe talking about it afterwards or just experiencing it and see what happens. I think that's that's one of those two things is like where we might uh feels like where we might be on and go.
SPEAKER_00:Just chasing the curiosity of the see what happens.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Which is related to the some research as Sam and I are doing um around curiosity. We've been trying to well so I started a business, Sunflower Spiritual Care and Education, and my hypothesis is that curiosity is the foundation of empathy um and connection. And so say I've talked to Sam about this and because of Curiosity Crew and our shared like connection and and way of thinking, though we approach problems very differently. And um that has been really interesting exploration, just like thinking about curiosity at an intellectual level.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Because I am genuinely curious about how did these people come here? Like, did they are we supporting more curiosity? Did they they obviously came curious? Right, but again, curiosity spreads like wildfowers, what I've seen, and like what allows curiosity to spread and become like contagious.
SPEAKER_04:Um it's made made you ask made made us ask questions like it's like well, are you born that way? Or do you learn it?
SPEAKER_01:Uh like is curiosity a skill or is it something that Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Is it like that? Intrinsic and is it intrinsic? Um can it grow? Can it go away? Um, how does it change people? Yeah. Um it even like I remember the first conversation we had, uh, it was about imagination. Yeah, and it's just like uh and because I I think one of the things because we're both coming at it from I think two well almost all of what we're doing lines up except at where we're in our end goals are or I mean our own interest, or I guess our is you're more looking at a more uh group dynamic.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and from like an educational perspective. As a an adult educator in group settings, I am curious about like how to help curiosity be fostered in community for the end goal of learning and developing skills, uh like leadership skills, caregiving skills, that sort of thing.
SPEAKER_04:Um and then and I'm much more of an individual level because I'm like, how do you because most of my academic work has been around how do people change? You know, and how do you how do you help or create environments or facilitate folks to change and evolve and grow? And um, and that's when I was thinking, like, wait a minute, like curio because that was all these things started to come together. It's like curiosity, these connected to imagination, is connected to wander, is connected to all these things. Yeah, or like even I mentioned this to one of our librarians, uh infinite number of librarians, and um they even said, Oh, there's a white paper about uh how fiction readers, people who read fiction, have better imaginations and who are more empathic. And it's like, wait a minute, so is that how actually people change and get a
SPEAKER_01:long is it because everyone should be reading.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah, yeah. But but yeah, yeah. But but then because you can you can put yourself like in a fiction book, like you can put yourself into that world or that character, that makes it easy for you to put your yourself in another person's shoes. And I was like, what?
SPEAKER_00:Yep. This yeah yeah.
SPEAKER_04:It's and it it starts if so many things are clicking.
SPEAKER_00:But that thing I'm still like that piece about empathy um I I was I've been talking with an academic about creativity and um and destruction and like how they're important to each other. But something that he said in in like the design process is that empathy is an important important skill for like marketing. Oh, it comes from like a tech, you know, marketing kind of world. And he said you know if empathy without compassion is cold and calculated. And that's the interesting thing that I think is fascinating about Curious Crew is that we have people who have empathy um and they have compassion for one another. Yeah. Like I think I remember you saying a few weeks ago um how when people are having a hard time like maybe they came to Curious Crew because they are craving connection because they're isolated, maybe they're dealing with depression or they're just going through a really rough time in life and how willing the group is to drop everything and take care of that person. Though we've I witnessed that like three times.
SPEAKER_04:Yep I was there was only beautiful there was only one time when I saw and I it once again you're used to like telling people what to do.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:It's like hey somebody's hurting let's stop what we're doing. And somebody came in new guy new person and and and once again because somebody started off and was sharing something that opened the door to be like oh it's okay for me to talk yeah and he just let it out and everybody stopped we did we you know F the rules F the question and we started you know and care for that person. And I there was this I just stand back and I go and I I mean honestly you know I mean I teared up a little bit because I was like man human beings can be so awesome sometimes. You know it was just a beautiful thing to see. But yeah you're right.
SPEAKER_00:And I think that's probably what the future of Curious career looks like. I I feel like I'm hearing more and more people talk about how they want to get back to the community or volunteer, how they want to be more connected with each other. Um like I just see the connections that we have all like deepening but I I do have a sense that eventually this group will decide let's all do this thing to make our community better together. Yeah I agree. I'm waiting to see that yeah it's already we've already seen seeds of it happening people getting together doing the doing these different things.
SPEAKER_04:I think it's just a matter of time based off of the heart of the people that we're yeah um that we're doing this with yeah yeah well what do you think do you think we you think we did it correctly you think we told the origin story well I don't know.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah I and the last thing I'll say that surprised me is people who want to do this in their own place. We had somebody moving about Rouge yeah and he wants to start his own crew and we have somebody in Mettery um and I think that surprised all three of us. That surprised all of us yeah that folks want to like how can I copy and paste this experience and that's like oh I can't you can't exactly do that but here are the tools that you need yeah yeah to to do that. And so this podcast is one way that we're providing a tool for people to do that if they so if they want to while also having people interact with the with the question and what we're doing you know digitally but ultimately like that's what this is the podcast well and that's what that's really where we're talking about the research because like it's it's it's an interesting thing.
SPEAKER_04:You start something and when you don't want to control it you just let it do what it's going to do and then it actually it does what you what you thought it would do but then you have no idea why it did it. Yeah. And then people asking you can tell me like can I do this here I'm like yeah but I don't know how to tell you how to do it. Yeah because it's like so it's like how how does this work? You know how do you like how how how do you do that?
SPEAKER_00:But I think there's something to the container that has been built um and and again the the the ground was I don't know like tilled to m to make something grow.
SPEAKER_02:Sure.
SPEAKER_00:Um by kind of be we we have an open stance towards change.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah yes oh yeah like that's probably the one foundation that is necessary. That's absolutely necessary. And it's if you see that and can cultivate that then you're probably good to go.
SPEAKER_00:And you Sam and Morgan you're all at every meeting I think y'all don't give yourselves enough credit for the way that you've created a container that people feel like they can play in that they would never say this they're probably blushing. Yeah they're blushing. No but that does have a lot to do that you're working with people who are listening who are taking your suggestions seriously who are willing to change whatever needs changing in order to make it work. I think anyone who is considering doing a Curious crew that's the work that that you want to do and have people around you who are going to enable allow you to to change is important because I think I think that's probably the cornerstone of making this thing replicable.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah. That's a good point. Well jeez you just you nailed that you should be uh you should you should go on a road with that that's pretty good. Well you know wait a minute what am I doing? Forget sunflower you're you're gonna be good after all that hard work that clients I know actually yeah you're you're killing it but well I think we uh of course that we can talk a lot more and there's so many stories and actually you know that may be one of the things that come up on the podcast is actually hearing some people's stories in the future which we there is a lot of people have very interesting stories but I think that's we'll we'll just call it a day we'll call it a rap uh maybe uh TBD you know or to be T B C T B C to be continued yeah because I'm sure we'll come back and be like okay this is what we said last year this is how that was different um but I hope uh everybody listening I hope you found it fascinating and connecting as I did um I I I really want to give a a big thanks to well first of all Reese just sitting back in the background making sure the levels are good popping up every now and again Reese always asking good questions um uh and coming in late and doing this uh but Morgan for always putting up with my uh crazy ideas and uh Colette I I gotta tell you I've met I I had to do I've done a lot of meetings in my time and I I'm so that that was one of the best decisions I ever made was making that meeting with you. I tell you what so good what a that was if I didn't do anything right from here on out that was a good damn meeting. But uh you can find out more uh uh about them I'm actually gonna put some stuff I put stuff in the show notes yeah so you know well there'll be stuff about them in there you can check out and uh thank you all who are listening for letting your c curiosity get the better of you today we'll be back around the table again soon with another curious question so until then stay curious thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode of the Curious Crew podcast if there's something or someone in this conversation that made you curious we want to include you in this conversation and there's a link for that in the show notes. If you want to pull up a chair in person we'd love to see you at our monthly gatherings. The link with dates, details and ways for you to RSAP are in the notes as well. Do you have questions or curious about starting a curious crew in your area shoot us an email which is found in our show notes. Thank you for letting your curiosity get the better of you today. We'll be back around the table again soon with another curious question. Until then stay curious
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