Ask Anyway: Why the Hard Questions Matter Most episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 2, 2026 · 23 MIN

Ask Anyway: Why the Hard Questions Matter Most

from Life Stories Podcast · host Shara Goswick

In this episode, I talk with Travis Cournoyer about his book Courageous Curiosity and the journey that led him to write it. He shares openly about carrying a secret for years and how finally telling the truth became the foundation for everything he’s building now. We talk about what it really means to ask a “stupid question” and why those are often the very questions that lead to growth, clarity, and change.Travis explains how fear and shame often keep us quiet, even when we know we need answers, and how learning to push through that discomfort can impact every area of life, from career decisions to relationships to parenting. He shares practical insight into how to slow down, reflect, and understand our own reactions instead of avoiding them, and why curiosity should be something we protect, not suppress.We also get into the idea of creating a “curiosity comfort zone,” where people feel safe to ask anything without judgment, and how powerful that can be in families, friendships, and workplaces. Travis talks about his business, Ask Anyway, and his bigger vision for helping people reconnect in a world that often feels disconnected.This conversation is honest, thoughtful, and encouraging. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to have everything figured out, but we do have to be willing to ask.To find out more about Travis and his work, visit https://www.askanyway.org/Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode, I talk with Travis Cournoyer about his book Courageous Curiosity and the journey that led him to write it. He shares openly about carrying a secret for years and how finally telling the truth became the foundation for everything he’s building now. We talk about what it really means to ask a “stupid question” and why those are often the very questions that lead to growth, clarity, and change.Travis explains how fear and shame often keep us quiet, even when we know we need answers, and how learning to push through that discomfort can impact every area of life, from career decisions to relationships to parenting. He shares practical insight into how to slow down, reflect, and understand our own reactions instead of avoiding them, and why curiosity should be something we protect, not suppress.We also get into the idea of creating a “curiosity comfort zone,” where people feel safe to ask anything without judgment, and how powerful that can be in families, friendships, and workplaces. Travis talks about his business, Ask Anyway, and his bigger vision for helping people reconnect in a world that often feels disconnected.This conversation is honest, thoughtful, and encouraging. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to have everything figured out, but we do have to be willing to ask.To find out more about Travis and his work, visit https://www.askanyway.org/Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

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This episode is 23 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 2, 2026.

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In this episode, I talk with Travis Cournoyer about his book Courageous Curiosity and the journey that led him to write it. He shares openly about carrying a secret for years and how finally telling the truth became the foundation for everything...

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