Cultivating Curiosity - a new podcast
By Alyssa Vinson
University of Florida IFAS
Finding joy in our daily work can be an arduous task. As Extension Agents, no matter what state or program area, we are asked to provide a robust and extensive suite of resources to communities, often with limited resources. We navigate the worlds of academia, county politics, community dynamics and personal relationships all while being reminded to maintain and promote healthy work/life balance. It can be daunting for new agents and tiresome for the more experienced. To exist within this delicate balance, we juggle responsibilities, we bargain for more resources, but most importantly, we create.
It is through our creative endeavors that we can slip the practice of joy into our work. Creativity can come in many forms, whether dressing up another article by dripping in a few lines of poetry, finding that perfect design for a new educational infographic, delivering a presentation with flair or partnering across disciplines to develop new and innovative programming.
To fill this need for creative and ultimately joyful work projects, a new podcast was launched in 2024 by two Florida Extension Agents, Dr. Taylor Clem and Alyssa Vinson. While podcasting is nothing new, we were hoping for something that served many purposes, to educate, of course, but to inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity in our listeners. So, Cultivating Curiosity was born out of a drive to do as Rachel Carson once so perfectly said, to inspire “a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life”.
Cultivating Curiosity airs new episodes on the first Friday of each month, with occasional bonus episodes. The podcasts are conversational, with a new expert/interesting person interviewed for each. In preparation for the podcast, a set of guiding questions and a theme are established, but the goal is to let the conversation flow. Nothing sparks joy more readily than experiencing and delighting in the joy of others. One of the characteristics that Taylor and I share, making us ideal co-hosts, is our expressive delight in hearing others share their stories. The podcast topics center around horticulture, botany, and all things plants, but since plants are integral throughout human culture, many other themes are explored.
To support the podcast, a webpage was launched which allows the podcast team to share additional resources, easily link to the current podcast episode and invite feedback from our listeners. As we reach the halfway point of our first year of podcasting, we have several lessons learned, but one thing we both agree on is that this project is one of our most joyful. You can find more information about the podcast here: Cultivating Curiosity Feel free to reach out to Taylor or myself via email if you want to chat podcasting, think you know someone who would make a great guest or just want to say ‘hi’: alyvinson@ufl.edu, taylorclem87@ufl.edu
