Why We Stopped Asking Questions (And How to Get Curious Again)

What happens to a country when curiosity disappears I'm by myself on the couch this week, sitting with something that's been frustrating me lately: how little curiosity and nuance there seems to be in the world right now. Everywhere I look there's an extreme view on one side, an extreme view on the other, and almost nothing in between. We assume the other person is evil or dumb instead of stopping to ask whether they're just working with different information. So I put on my trauma therapist hat. My theory is that curiosity is a privilege of safety. When you're stuck in survival mode, your nervous system doesn't leave space for questions, nuance, or seeing the gray. After years of chaos and a global pandemic, a lot of us are still living in that defensive posture even when the danger has passed. In this episode I get into the ICE detention protests, why the angriest voices are always the loudest, why you're probably aiming your anger at the wrong person, and the small things we can actually do to feel safe enough to get curious again. Plus my reading recommendation this week: Your Heart Was Made for This by Oren Jay Sofer. Turn off your phone, get out into the world, talk to real people, and stay curious. Find more over on Substack, including the Women of Wonder community: https://thewonder.life/wow/ Timestamps: 0:00 The thing frustrating me lately 2:00 The man yelling at the protesters 6:00 Why the algorithm shows us rage 8:00 Curiosity as the antidote 12:00 Curiosity is a privilege of safety 13:00 How the pandemic put us in survival mode 18:00 What we can actually do about it 24:00 Stay curious 25:00 What I'm reading: Your Heart Was Made for This 29:00 Women of Wonder on Substack #WonderInTheWeeds #Curiosity #TraumaTherapist #Nuance #Mindfulness #Podcast Welcome to "Wonder in the Weeds" with trauma therapist Cristie Ritz-King. This is the show where we talk about how to live, love, and grow right alongside grief, change, and the "wild messiness of this human life". Moving beyond the role of the "blank slate" therapist , Cristie combines her professional experience with her personal stories of challenge and reinvention. We're not about toxic positivity or influencer-style advice. Instead, this is a space for authentic connection, community , and understanding that we don't have to wait for life to be perfect to feel good. Each week, we'll talk about: Finding "wonder" even when you feel like you're "walking through the weeds". Navigating personal change, from parenting to finding your authentic self. The "Weeds of the Week," where we discuss everything from small daily annoyances to the big things that bother us. Sharing stories to feel less alone in our experiences. Join us to get through the weeds together. Let's connect: ➡️ Website: https://thewonder.life/