EPISODE 13: Curiosity Didn't Kill the Cat
Topics Covered
- Why curiosity is “cognitive courage” and how it rewires the brain for creativity
- The 3 curiosity styles (mechanistic / teleological / cause-and-effect) and how to spot yours
- Brian Grazer’s 35-year ritual of meeting remarkable strangers and the movies it birthed
- Tiny experiments: using daily 20-minute practices to go deeper into poetry and self-inquiry
- Building gentle accountability with ECtA’s Quick Accountability Guide & community workshops
Episode Overview
Curiosity is the engine that powers everything in this fast-moving episode. HostsKarina KampeandMaria Wronski-Ellistrade enlightening sharp turns—from Oscar-winning producerBrian Grazer’s“curiosity conversations” to a 1916 feminist poem remix—showing how better questions unlock creativity, accountability and everyday joy. Along the way you’ll learn the three scientific styles of curiosity, get a dopamine-driven tour of the brain, and pick up a 7-day micro-challenge that fits in your pocket. Whether you’re a startup founder, a side-hustler or a lifelong learner, this episode proves curiosity isn’t a cat-killer; it’s your nine-life superpower.
Time-stamped guide
00:00 Hollywood producer, Poets, Zoom-fika & 21 century goal setting
00:01 Theme set-up & weekly check-in (buying a Portuguese house, ocean dip, avoiding burnout)
00:03 The 3 kinds of curiosity: mechanistic, teleological, cause-and-effect
00:05 Storytime: Brian Grazer’s first life-changing conversation
00:08 “Real curiosity opens hearts”: emotional curiosity & Apollo 13
00:11 Brain science of the “curiosity gap” & dopamine hit
00:14 Sponsor break: ECtA Hub + free workshop (Aug 26)
00:15 Tiny-experiment recap: 7-day poetry deep-dive & anaphora lesson
00:18 Karina reads her “Modern Woman” poem remix
00:20 New 7-day challenge: ask one open question each day
00:22 Parenting reflection & staying curious on vacation
00:24 Preview: The Passion-Driven Entrepreneur feat. Tonya Thorne
00:25 Links, thanks & victory-dance sign-off
Also available on:Spotify Apple Podcasts
External Resources & Bonus Reading
Science of Curiosity
- Loewenstein G. (1994) “The Psychology of Curiosity”
- Gottlieb & Oudeyer (2018) “The Psychology & Neuroscience of Curiosity”
- Gottlieb et al. (2015) “The Neuroscience of Curiosity” (Neuron)
Curiosity in Practice
Edith Södergran & Modernism
