The Natural Joy of Learning: Embracing Curiosity

Welcome to Hot Topics! Our host, Gabrielle Crichlow, and guest Dr. Sheldon Greaves kick off the show by celebrating the inherent joy of learning. They discuss how curiosity drives engagement and creativity, highlighting the importance of fostering a love for learning in both children and adults. Tune in to discover how to cultivate this joy in everyday life! Who is Dr. Sheldon Greaves?Navigating graduate school required a creative approach for Dr. Sheldon Greaves, who realized after graduating that while traditional academia wasn't his path, his personal journey of learning had evolved into a rich and rewarding life experience. By choosing to forego a conventional academic career, he has embraced a diverse range of pursuits:Working in the nonprofit sector to promote science literacy and educationCo-founding the first private university aimed at serving the intelligence, counterterrorism, and executive protection industriesPublishing papers on wordplay in ancient Near Eastern omen textsCollaborating with a team of amateur scientists to build the world's first amateur rocket designed for outer spaceDeveloping numerous local adult education programsProducing and publishing a 50-part podcast introduction to the Old TestamentStarting and running a company dedicated to publishing science education softwareThrough these experiences, Dr. Greaves has learned that learning for its own sake is a profoundly enriching journey toward personal growth and empowerment. His book, "The Guerrilla Scholar's Handbook," serves as a guide for those eager to explore this path. "The Guerrilla Scholar's Handbook" combines elements of how-to, memoir, and manifesto. After earning his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Greaves navigated his studies while working in Silicon Valley during the dot-com boom. This unique approach allowed him to develop a different perspective on intellectual engagement outside of traditional academia. The book celebrates the pleasures and perils of an independent life of the mind and advocates for communal learning as a means to strengthen society, especially at a time when the concepts of education and expertise face significant challenges.You can find Dr. Greaves:On the web: https://guerrillascholar.substack.com/On Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/sheldon.greaves/On Facebook (business): https://www.facebook.com/guerrillascholarOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldongreaves/On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@guerrillascholarOn BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/guerrillascholar.bsky.socialPurchase Dr. Greaves's book, "The Guerrilla Scholar’s Handbook," here: https://book.spines.com/books/the-guerrilla-scholars-handbook/Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/aJVIn3jdb-ARate this episode on IMDB: TBA********************************************Follow Gabrielle Crichlow:On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.crichlowOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle.crichlowOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-crichlow-92587a360Follow A Step Ahead Tutoring Services:On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn X: https://www.x.com/ASATS2013On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-step-ahead-tutoring-services/On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@astepaheadtutoringservicesOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asats2013On Eventbrite: https://astepaheadtutoringservices.eventbrite.comVisit us on the web: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.comSign up for our email list: https://squareup.com/outreach/a41DaE/subscribeSign up for our text list: https://tapit.us/cipPJOCheck out our entire "Hot Topics!" podcast: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.com/hottopicspodcastSupport us:Cash App: https://cash.app/$ASATS2013PayPal: https://paypal.me/ASATS2013Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/ASATS2013Zelle: [e-mail] a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hot-topics--5600971/supportOriginal date of episode: November 18, 2025