Curiosity, Community, and Educational Transformation with Jeff Wetzler S9E4 (124)
The Learning Future Podcast with Louka ParryShow Notes
What if the key to transformative leadership lies not in having answers, but in asking the right questions? How can embracing curiosity over certainty revolutionize our approach to education and organizational growth? In this episode, Jeff Wetzler delves into the transformative power of asking questions and how it can unlock hidden wisdom within organizations and educational systems. He introduces the “Ask Approach,” a five-step method designed to foster deeper understanding and innovation by tapping into the insights of those around us. Jeff shares personal anecdotes and professional experiences that highlight the importance of curiosity, psychological safety, and active listening in leadership and learning. Listeners will gain practical tools to enhance their decision-making processes, build stronger relationships, and drive meaningful change in their communities. Jeff Wetzler is an expert in learning and human potential, with over 25 years of experience spanning business and education. He is the co-founder and former co-CEO of Transcend, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming learning environments through human-centered design and innovation. Prior to Transcend, Jeff served as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America and worked as a management consultant at Monitor Group, advising Fortune 500 companies. He holds a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Brown University. Jeff is also the author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life. Share your thoughts with us on social media or visit our website www.thelearningfuture.com.
More from The Learning Future Podcast with Louka Parry
In this episode of The Learning Future Podcast, Louka Parry is joined by educator, entrepreneur and Future Anything founder Nicole Dyson to explore what learning needs to become in a world being rapidly reshaped by AI. Together, they challenge the false divide between knowledge and capabilities, arguing instead for capability rich learning, where young people build strong foundations of knowledge and then learn how to apply what they know in complex, unpredictable and unfamiliar contexts. Nicole discusses why engagement matters, how AI is changing the skills young people will need beyond school, and why capabilities such as agility, communication, collaboration and agency cannot be developed through linear learning experiences alone. The conversation also turns the lens back on educators. If we want young people to become explorers, risk-takers and adaptive thinkers, teachers and schools need the confidence to experiment too, loosening control, staying intellectually curious and creating learning environments where both educators and students can operate at their growth edge.
In a world increasingly driven by technology, Isabelle Hau emphasizes a shift back to what makes us truly human: our relational abilities. During her conversation with Louka Parry on the Learning Future Podcast, Isabelle champions the idea of relational intelligence, arguing that the future of education and work will hinge on our capacity to connect, collaborate, and navigate complex social landscapes.
In this episode of the Learning Future Podcast, Louka Parry connects with Guy Claxton and Emily Poel, authors of Bodies of Learning: How Embodiment Science Transforms Education. Their conversation dives deep into the relationship between our physical selves and the learning process, shedding light on how embodiment can reshape our understanding of intelligence and education.
In this episode, Louka Parry speaks with architect, urban designer and author Danish Kurani about the powerful but often overlooked role of physical space in shaping how we think, feel and learn. From classrooms and homes to supermarkets and cities, Danish argues that design is never neutral. It influences behaviour, wellbeing, creativity and connection in ways we rarely notice until we learn to see it. Together, they explore what great learning environments require, why flexible furniture alone is not enough, and how educators, leaders and parents can become more intentional designers of the spaces that shape human flourishing.
In this episode of The Learning Future Podcast, Louka Parry speaks with Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, about the changing purpose of education in an age of AI, uncertainty and rapid technological change.