The Importance Of Curiousity (Full Episode - Archive)The Importance Of Curiousity (Full Episode - Archive)
Relational Recovery
Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about why curiosity matters for recovery, faith, and relationships, contrasting it with judgement and rigid certainty. Their conversation highlights how simple questions can soften shame, build connection, and support a more compassionate recovery culture.
34:35•26 Jul 2026
Why Curiosity Matters For Recovery And Relationships
Episode Overview
- Curiosity is presented as a key value that counters judgement and supports relational health.
- Admitting "I don’t know" is framed as an act of humility that opens the door to learning and compassion.
- Question-asking is encouraged as a first response instead of giving advice or making rigid statements.
- Curiosity is linked to deeper intimacy, stronger community, and a more honest engagement with Christian faith.
- Practicing curiosity in recovery settings is suggested as a way to reduce defensiveness and increase connection.
“To lead with curiosity is so powerful. And it's so easy to do. You don't have to be an expert in anything. All you have to do is be curious and ask questions.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation from Relational Recovery centres on one simple but challenging idea: curiosity. Aimed at people wrestling with unwanted behaviours and addiction, the episode looks at how staying curious can shift relationships, faith, and recovery culture. Host Wes Thompson and co-host Austin Hill talk about the Refuge Ministry’s core values—unconditional love, safety, God at work, and intentionality—and how curiosity is becoming a crucial aspirational value alongside presence and resiliency.
For anyone used to harsh self-criticism or religious shame, Wes’s reflections on judgement versus curiosity will feel familiar.
He describes judgement as having your mind made up, while curiosity is "being a learner, being open-minded, trying to understand where others are coming from." Austin adds that curiosity demands humility and can feel scary, because it means admitting "I don't know something, but I do want to learn." He calls curiosity "that like healing balm" for judgement, showing how simple question-asking can lead to compassion rather than condemnation—for yourself and for others.
The episode speaks directly to men entering the Refuge programme, urging them to drop the "know-it-all" posture and instead ask questions of themselves, the community, and their assumptions about people groups, politics, and faith. Wes shares stories of his brother’s hard questions about Christianity and his own journey from defensive certainty toward a more open, question-friendly faith.
Grounding it all is a reflection on Jesus and the Samaritan woman, where Jesus leads with a question and offers dignity to someone culture said he should ignore. The message is clear: curiosity opens doors to intimacy, belonging, and change. If you’re tired of feeling judged—by others or yourself—could practicing curiosity be the gentler way forward?
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