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Host Christopher Johnson opens Calm, Clear Curiosity with Leonard Cohen’s idea that “repose” comes from thinking less about ourselves, contrasting it with everyday self-evaluation and even self-improvement as constant self-judgment. He connects this outward shift of attention to Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal, which critiques medicine’s focus on prolonging life without asking what makes life worth living, centering the question “What matters to you?” Johnson highlights related questions—what someone fears, will endure, or won’t sacrifice—and argues they apply beyond medicine as a way to understand others. He frames curiosity as a tool for getting outside oneself, distinguishing reflection from preoccupation, and suggests practices like listening closely, making something, helping, exploring, and asking genuine questions. He closes with prompts about where attention goes when it's not focused on oneself and what changes when you become curious about others’ answers.

00:00 Cohen Quote and Welcome
00:47 Repose and Self Focus
01:59 Being Mortal and What Matters
03:10 Curiosity as Repose
04:22 Practices to Look Outward
05:21 Weekly Questions and Closing

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About Calm, Clear Curiosity

Calm, Clear Curiosity is a weekly exploration of ideas worth thinking about. Each episode begins with a quote and follows the questions it raises through books, podcasts, journalism, conversations, and other discoveries.

Hosted and produced by Christopher G. Johnson of Calm Clear Media.

Music by Jerome Gray of Cleveland Heads.

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