Why Asking Questions Feels So Risky Right Now — Shira Hoffer

What if the problem isn’t disagreement — it’s how we ask the question? Shira Hoffer was a freshman at Harvard when she asked what she thought was a simple, honest question and got completely shut down. That moment launched her into studying and helping others with something all of us are wrestling with right now: how to stay curious when conversations get tense. ABOUT GUEST Shira Hoffer is the Executive Director of The Viewpoints Project (https://viewpointsproject.org). Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/02/why-asking-questions-feels-so-risky.html CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:04) Meet Shira Hoffer (1:25) Shira's Classroom Experience (5:19) The Viewpoints Project (6:27) The Science of Curiosity (9:49) Navigating Difficult Conversations (14:12) A Disagreement Gone Wrong (19:26) Conclusion