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Curated Questions

Celebrating The Power Of Questions

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#74 Eila Park Robertson: How Questions Can Save A Fractured Democracy

"Lean into courage and see what happens." - Eila Park Robertson

Former ABC News journalist, award‑winning filmmaker, and crisis communications strategist Eila Park Robertson joins Curated Questions to explore what happens “when listening saves democracy.”

Drawing from a childhood navigating violence, immigration, and loneliness, Eila shares how asking genuine questions became her superpower for building trust with people who would never normally talk to the media. She explains why Western culture has forgotten how to listen, how that loss feeds polarization, and what it really takes to build bridges across political and ideological divides, starting with presence, curiosity, and courage.

Eila and Ken dive into introverts as secret leaders of the room, why outrage‑only politics is burning us out, and how personal relationships can transform deeply held beliefs. They also explore climate storytelling, South Korea’s fight against authoritarianism, and practical ways to resist despair and rebuild community in an age of fractured attention.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Curated Questions Dispatch newsletter for more fun with questions and curiosity! (https://substack.com/@curatedquestions)

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tags: Curated Questions, Ken Woodward, Eila Park Robertson, questions, listening, democracy, courage, curiosity, political polarization, bridge building, empathy, introverts, empaths, attention economy, outrage culture, cancel culture, climate storytelling, crisis communications, journalism, trust, vulnerability, belonging, nuance, dialogue, conversation, social justice, racial justice, Korean American, immigration, family, storytelling, leadership, wonder
categories: Community, Community Service, Social Impact, Connection, Leadership, Listening, Mental Wellness, Personal Growth, Equity, Imagination, Journalism, Politics, Strategy
Thursday 03.12.26
Posted by Kenneth Woodward
 

#58 Frank Sesno: How Bridge-Building Questions Cross Divides!

"I'm gonna make an appointment with my curiosity." - Frank Sesno

Emmy award-winning journalist Frank Sesno shares how curiosity and strategic questioning shaped his four-decade career covering presidents and world leaders as CNN's Washington Bureau Chief and White House correspondent. From a fourth-grade question about astronauts to interviewing five U.S. presidents, Frank reveals the power of deliberate curiosity and active listening.

Frank breaks down his approach to preparing for high-stakes interviews, explaining how he blocks conversations into thematic acts while remaining flexible. He introduces the "echo question" technique, which is simply repeating a person's emotionally charged word back to them, that transforms surface answers into more profound truths. Frank emphasizes that the best questioners are the best listeners, focusing on what people say and what they don't say.

In "Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change," Frank discusses why bridge-building questions are critical in our polarized moment. He explores how AI makes human curiosity more valuable and shares his practice of "making an appointment with curiosity" to create time to deliberately formulate meaningful questions.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

Keep questioning!

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tags: Curated Questions, Ken Woodward, Frank Sesno, questioning techniques, active listening skills, interview preparation, curiosity practices, journalism skills, communication strategies, bridge building questions, echo question technique, strategic questioning, audience awareness, Ask More book, deliberate curiosity, question preparation, polarization solutions, conversation skills, media literacy, critical thinking, interpersonal communication, empathy development, AI and questioning, fact checking, creative questioning, professional development, leadership communication, conflict resolution, relationship building, student engagement, public speaking, investigative journalism
categories: Community, Social Impact, Connection, Education, Leadership, Listening, Personal Growth, Journalism
Wednesday 11.19.25
Posted by Kenneth Woodward
 

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