Steve Inskeep is inspirational. He makes me want to lean into curiosity
Steve Inskeep is inspirational. He makes me want to lean into curiosity.
What struck me as most interesting and delightful about the Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep's interview on Semafor's "Mixed Singals" podcast was how often the hosts, Ben Smith and Max Tani, said the word curious.
Steve is curious. He is optimistic and adaptable around media. He does the radio, yes, with millions of listeners across the world. But he does podcasts, video (and audio) long form interviews. He writes books. He calls for their to be more journalists in the world. He was a breath of fresh air.
He visits Iran several times before talking to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He talks to regular people on the street. He tries to build a context and have that context help him in interviews. He praises local reporters and local radio stations. He goes the extra mile. His first book is about a bombing in December of 2009 in Karachi, Pakistan. This from a guy born in Indiana and started working in Public Radio in Kentucky.
He tries to vaporize being a pundit; vaporize being a person who "always knows." For that's what curiosity is, yes? It's the opposite of assumption, it's a slather of wonder. It's action over sit backery.
Steve likes to cite his source and be transparent. He says it's okay to not trust the media; that's fine. So then, if you're like him working in media, you should "be trustworthy or maybe even make it so that you don't have to trust me," he said on Mixed Signals. Steve wants the facts and sources to speak for themselves:
[I want} to be so transparent about what I learned and how I learned it, and so fair that you understand what I'm trying to tell you and why."
Hearing Steve try to figure out the confusing Supreme Court Ruling last week that limits the power of federal judges was a great example of this curiosity. He had to stop and think out loud several times. Listen HERE..
We should all try to be more like Steve. Curious about the world. Get out there, learn about it, talk to people.
Listen or watch the interview:
P.S. Steve's most frequent question? People always ask what time he gets up to do Morning Edition. 3AM. Start time is 5AM. Not a second later.