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The Curious Middle

We’re two San Francisco moms who got tired of pretending the obvious isn’t obvious.
Top 1.5% of podcasts globally not because we play it safe. We ask the questions people are thinking but won’t say out loud, on the topics that actually shape how we live: media, politics, culture, parenting, careers and what it means to defend common sense in a state that often ignores reality.
We’re two women who’ve earned our opinions through life, careers, raising kids and educating ourselves, Expect ideas that challenge what you think you know. Conversations that don’t wrap up neatly. And the occasional moment where one of us changes our mind on air, because that’s what actually curious people do.
Being “in the middle” isn’t about being passive. It’s about being grounded enough to question everything, open enough to learn from anywhere, and brave enough to push beyond comfortable assumptions. Expect conversations that challenge, entertain, and push you toward a more thoughtful, and wildly better life.

Follow us on Instagram @thecuriousmiddlepod or reach out at thecuriousmiddlepod@gmail.com

Latest Episodes:

Parlay House Founder Anne Devereux Mills On The Power Of Conversation, Connection + Civic Duty Oct 05, 2017

Show notes

If you love thoughtful conversation and inspiring other women, then today's podcast is for you.

Anne Devereux Mills is the founder of the Parlay House, a salon-style gathering of more than 500 women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Members of the group meet once a month to connect, learn and inspire. Each meeting features a discussion on an interesting topic. The goal of Parlay, Anne says, is to change the framework of reciprocity by putting women in a place to pull fellow women forward, rather than creating a setting where women have a more transaction-like "you help me, I help you" interaction.

Another goal of Anne's is to create a level playing field for all ages and professions saying, "If you talk [to another person] about what you do, you miss the commonalities." At a recent event, she shares that many women opened up about their eating disorders, depression and other big topics.

Anne also serves as chair of the board of a public company and serves as chief strategy officer of Lantern, a San Francisco-based startup that uses technology to create mental wellness programs that reduce stigma and improve access to lower cost for mental health treatment. She also is the executive producer of The Return, an Emmy-nominated film that focuses on our criminal justice system and the impact of the "Three Strikes" law. And as part of her passion for social justice issues, Anne worked as a key member of the team that helped pass California's Proposition 36, which was a part of California's "Three Strikes" reform.

While she was working toward these accomplishments, Anne built her career while raising two daughters as a single mom in the New York area. Before her current roles, Anne served in C-level positions at various advertising agencies, including BBDO, TBWA\Chiat Day and LLNS, focusing on health care. In episode 53 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin talks to Anne about she of the practices that have led to her success, personal sacrifice, the life-changing events that led her from New York to San Francisco and the inspiration for Parlay House.

She Should Run Founder, Erin Loos Cutraro Jul 04, 2017

Show notes

Happy 4th of July! In honor of the holiday, we are speaking with Erin Loos Cutraro, the founder of She Should Run. Erin founded She Should in 2008, a bi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of women running for political office. if you just decided to run or are just exploring, through an incubator, research, events and campaigns, She Should Run offers community support and many other resources. We learned so much from this show, and hope you will enjoy it and be inspired to run for an office or encourage someone you know to run for one of the 500,000 elected offices across the US. As you ll hear on this show, when women run for office, they actually win at the same rate as men!

Author Courtney Martin on Redefining Measures of Success Jun 08, 2017

Show notes

How do you define success? It's a question Courtney Martin asked herself and others while writing her book, The New Better Off: Reinventing the American Dream, which attempts to help all of us think about redefining our measures of success. She encourages us to "reject the tired narratives about success" because our motives and lives will change when we shift our focus, instead, to community.

"The New Better Off most succinctly is realizing that our quality of life is more determined by the quality of our relationships than by our own individual achievements as we've historically thought about it," Courtney says. "It's more about meaning, relationships, community and fulfillment – as opposed to status and stuff."

The book asks questions many of us have asked ourselves, and it challenges what many of us have come to accept as the status quo. One of our favorite lines in Courtney's book is: "I don't want to get a good job, a house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids and then just go to sleep." Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Courtney about this desire for meaning, purpose and community in our lives and a fear of where the traditional path can lead us in episode 46 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast.

Other topics of discussion include how the traditional 9-to-5 job structure created in the '50's for those without caretaking responsibilities simply doesn't work in the world we live in today. (For example, by the year 2020 it's estimated that half the workforce will be freelance, she cites.)

We also discuss her decision to put community first by living in a co-housing community in Oakland, Calif., where individuals practice radical hospitality by dining together weekly, sharing homeownership activities and helping one another. And if you aren't the co-housing type, Courtney shares ideas on how similar principals of community housing can be easily integrated into our lives – from hikes with family and friends to group dinners. After all, Courtney says, the relationships in our lives are the things that make us the happiest.

Cherilyn Parsons, Founder, Bay Area Book Festival May 11, 2017

Show notes

As a book lover since childhood, Cherilyn Parsons longed to be a part of the literary community. So, she risked her security, job stability and comfort for her dream of starting a world-class book festival in Berkeley, California.

Although there had been a book festival in her home region, the San Francisco Bay Area, more than a decade prior, there wasn't one when Cherilyn decided to take a chance and begin her efforts. And even though she had no prior experience in event planning or the literary world, she did have one very important skill on her resume – fundraising.

"I had no experience in event planning," she says. "I did not know the literary world. I had no money to start with. But I thought, hey, let's do the book festival."

And so, with a background in nonprofit fundraising, most recently at the Center for Investigative Reporting – Cherilyn thought she could apply her experience to help launch a large-scale book fest. And although it wasn't easy, she made it happen. Now in its third year, the 2-day Bay Area Book Festival draws more than 50,000 attendees and 300 authors for events and panels spanning 9 city blocks in Berkeley.

In episode 43 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Host Polina Selyutin discusses with Cheryl how she took her idea to launch, the ups and downs along her path and the personal sacrifices she made to make her dream come true. Read (and listen) on to learn why book festivals are such powerful forums for connecting authors and book lovers, as well as what it takes to create, fund and manage large-scale public events.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

Setting The Scene: Cherilyn's love of books began in her childhood. "I always devoured books," she says, " … I always wanted to be a part of the book world."
Making The Leap: "I had no experience in event planning," she says. "I did not know the literary world. I had no money to start with. But I thought, hey, let's do the book festival."
Starting From Scratch: While Cherilyn did have a wealth of experience in fundraising for established nonprofits from prior roles, when it came to raising money for a brand new gig, it was "a completely different ball game." Often asked, "Who else is funding you?" nobody wanted to step up to the plate to be first in line for an event with no track record. "It was really, really difficult and humbling," she says. "I was used to doing this and raising funds."
The Power Of Partnerships: Cherilyn aimed her focus on building partnerships for her first year of her journey. She worked tirelessly to network to gain buy-in from potential partners. To her, a partnership – even without a financial tie – was just as important as funds for the credibility it would help establish for the festival. "I had to build the partnerships in order to have the credibility that showed other people were involved – and believed – in the festival before others would believe in it financially," she says.
The First Wins: Through her work, Cherilyn found launch partners in UC Berkeley and the San Francisco Chronicle. "Credibility is essential," she says. "Everyone looks at who else is involved to know if they should get involved."
It Just Takes One: After getting one donor, Cherilyn then leveraged that support to pitch many more donors.
Facing Fear: When Cherilyn quit her job to pursue her dream of launching a book festival in the Bay Area, she knew her personal credibility – and her future – was on the line. "I made it up as I went along," she says. "I mean, honestly, there were nights when I was crying on the floor of my little home office, because someone had said 'no' to funding and people didn't trust me."
The Power Of Books: Cherilyn feels books are a solitary, sacred and intimate space. At festivals, book lovers and authors have the opportunity to get out of the solitary and join together in discussion. "It's a very deep communion – a book – between the reader and the writer," Cherilyn says. " … There is something really magic about the private experience of reading, and then the public experience of coming together to share this." She says she loves how festivals contain, "All these people loving books together."
Becoming A Leader: Cherilyn's goal is for the Bay Area Book Festival to become one of the leading book festivals in the world. Because the Bay Area is so innovative and progressive, she wants the book festival to reflect the spirit and innovation of the region. Additionally, she wants it to maintain a strong international focus, saying that it's important to hear voices from around the world.
Did You Know: An impressive 70% of book buyers in the United States are women.

Follow us at @iwhjpodcast

Eugenia Cheng's Portfolio Career Combining Math, Music, Writing, Teaching and Art Apr 25, 2017

Show notes

Eugenia Cheng has built a "portfolio career" combining her passions for math, piano and education. Eugenia has a PHD in Pure Mathematics and is a Scientist in Residence at School of the Art Institute in Chicago. As part of her portfolio career, Eugenia also performs as a concert pianist and is a published author of two books about math. Eugenia also works to develop math training materials and curriculum, she does research in math within higher dimensional category theory, and she writes about math for media publications. Eugenia has built her career by finding ways to use her talents and work to help others. Eugenia suggests we build our careers by finding what we are really good at and then finding how to use our talents in the best possible way to contribute to society.

Eugenia has a talent for showing how math relates to our world, and in describing the beautiful and mysterious intersections of math, science and art. We talk with Eugenia on how she got on her path and how playing the piano was her refuge when she was frustrated with the confinements of her school years. Eugenia offers suggestions for encouraging kids to enjoy math ( there is some great advice for those of us who have math phobias), we talk about Eugenia's latest book, beyond infinity, and Eugenia's thoughts on how math, science and art are spiritually related. Eugenia stepped away from a conventional tenured academic path to create a career where she could user her strengths and interests. Eugenia's thoughtful and analytical approach to creating a career that allowed her to contribute more to society, applies to those of us trying to find work where we can also use more of our strengths. We think you will love this conversation abut how to combine different interests, including Eugenia's thoughts on the concept of infinity, how "drunk cooking" and math are similar and how you can stretch the possibilities within your career.

Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential Feb 24, 2017

Show notes

If you love writing, blogging, photography, creating content — and having control of your future while developing your own business — we think you will enjoy hearing how Lauryn Evarts created her blog and brand, The Skinny Confidential. When Lauryn started blogging 6 years ago, she was broke and miserable working in a bartending job. Today, With six employees, Lauryn is running her own business.

In today's episode of I Want Her Job: the Podcast, we talk to Lauryn about how she engages with her audience, her mindset for setting goals and dealing with criticism. She also shares how she chipped away every day at the goals she made for her blog. "Every day when I laid my head on the pillow I had built The Skinny Confidential in some small way," she says.

Now as a professional blogger, Lauryn shares some practical advice for what it takes. "If you can't deal with criticism probably being an influencer is not the way to go," she says. But if you can? Well, we think the upside could be that it's your dream job.

Ida Tin of Clue, The World's Fasting Growing Period and Fertility Tracking App Feb 17, 2017

Show notes

Ida Tin is founder of Clue, the world's fastest growing period tracking and fertility app. Ida shares why she is so committed to using technology to empower women with more knowledge and control of their bodies and for family planning. Ida is on a mission to help women become more aware and "friendlier with their bodies". Hear how Ida founded Clue and and about Femtech, an emerging area of technology addressing women's health. As Ida says "Within Femtech alone there is so much unmet potential. Everywhere we look we see needs that women have that are not being addressed where technology can play a role." Prior to founding Clue, Ida had a business leading motorcycle tours around the world. Listen to hear how Ida's background and early interests in women's health evolved into her role as founder of Clue.

The New Yorker's Lauren Collins On Love, Language And Moving To Paris Dec 09, 2016

Show notes

In episode 32 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we speak with Lauren Collins, staff writer at The New Yorker, and author of When In French: Love In A Second Language. The book, which is a memoir of falling in love, learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture, was recently selected as a "Notable Book of 2016" by The New York Times. And it's easy to see why.

With plenty of humor and fascinating details on linguistics and French culture, in the book Lauren recounts her journey of learning and adjusting to a life in France. In her interview, she shares the story of the one decision that changed her life. Weeks before her 30th birthday, Lauren decided to shake things up, requesting to work for The New Yorker from London. It was during this fateful trip that, in a decidedly American way, Lauren walked over and introduced herself … to her future husband!

Eventually moving with him to Paris, When In French chronicles the cultural adjustments and clashes of living in a new country. Listen in to hear more about Lauren's journey, details on her sought-after job at The New Yorker and more.

Hera Hub Founder Felena Hanson On Creating A Female-Friendly Coworking Space Nov 24, 2016

Show notes

Felena Hanson was just another woman working from home when she came up with a brilliant idea. While working at home for eight years, she missed having a sense of community and often time struggled to focus. The options in the market at the time, while uber-hip and high tech, were lacking an environment that felt beautiful and clean to her. She realized she was craving a coworking space designed by women, for women, so Felena embarked on creating what she couldn't find.

And now, five years later, Hera Hub is the first international coworking and shared office space for women (though open to men as well) from Washington, D.C. to Stockholm, Sweden. And although the company specializes in providing inspired spaces for women to work from, the company also hosts training sessions on planning, accounting and other business services – providing continuous support and advice for its members. They also offer an endless supply of coffee and wine! After all, Felena says, in Hera Hub spaces women are truly trying to help one another.

"I wanted to create something that was bigger than myself, and bigger than the city that I'm in," Felena says. " … It's an ecosystem of support, collaboration and community."

In episode 31 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Felena about launching a business, making mistakes and building a community.

Judy Robinett on How to Become a Power Connector Nov 21, 2016

Show notes

Judy Robinett's story begins in Franklin, Idaho. As a young girl who was bullied during junior high, Judy felt uncomfortable at social events, which she would often arrive late to and leave early from. Until her 40s, she felt shy, awkward, not good enough, not cute enough and not educated enough.

Today, however, Judy's life paints a different picture. As a well-known and highly respected investor and advisor, she is known as the woman with a titanium Rolodex. If you're curious about how she made the leap from insecure young woman to confident businesswoman, then you will want to hear episode 30 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast.

In today's show, Judy shares how an attitude of, "Keep your head down; work hard; and wait your turn," turned into advice worth tossing. She read Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends And Influence People and immediately realized that it was actually those leaving early on Friday to socialize at the golf club were the ones getting ahead at work. After reading this book, she began to make intentional choices in how she interacted with others.

This fresh outlook aids Judy to this day. When she meets someone new, Judy immediately begins looking for ways she can help, which she explains further in her step-by-step approach in her book on networking – How To Be A Power Connector. In today's episode, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin discusses the art of connection with Judy and tips that can help you develop your own titanium Rolodex.

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