Kent Sanders

Reflections on Writing & Creativity

Podcast: Learning to Ask Better Questions (with Dan Drake)

December 6, 2018 by Kent Sanders | Leave a Comment

It seems like we spend the first part of our lives learning to give all the correct answers. But what if the creative journey was less about giving the right answers and more about asking better questions? Today’s guest helps us navigate this tension between questions and answers, and also encourages us to explore our curiosity.

To listen to the podcast, click the player below.

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Dan Drake is the co-host of the Better Questions Podcast, a show that aims to help people of faith find better questions that are more helpful to our faith and that bring unity to the church.

Dan is also a worship pastor and the Media Minister at Cornerstone Christian Church in Shiloh, Illinois. In addition, Dan is a gifted musician and songwriter, a filmmaker, a blogger, and most importantly, a husband and father. He’s a busy guy!

Dan’s thoughts on art, faith, and life will challenge your thinking, help you find the divine in the mundane, and to ask better questions that lead to a more fulfilling life.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • How Dan’s creative experiences led him to begin a podcast focused on questions.
  • Dan’s two “journeys,” both driven by questions: How do I use my creative gifts for God, and how do I use them to have fun?
  • Why Dan doesn’t check his brain at the door.
  • How to find the divine in the mundane.
  • How turning 30 led Dan to think about his mortality more and the desire to “contribute a verse.”
  • The story behind the color and design of the Better Questions Podcast logo.
  • What Dan and his co-hosts are trying to accomplish with the Better Questions podcast.
  • The value of asking questions that lead us to act on godly impulses rather than asking questions to prove what we already believe.
  • How parables convey deep truths in the context of stories.
  • Practical ways to begin asking better questions.
  • Why Dan studies film.

Key Takeaways

1. Curiosity is an indispensable part of your creative life.

Dan talked about his need to follow his curiosity, and how it has led him to explore many different creative pursuits, including film, music, storytelling, podcasting, and other areas. If we want to create new things we must constantly explore our curiosity. What have you been reading, watching, listening to, or exploring lately?

2. Movies are the language of modern culture.

That may sound like an extreme statement, but I believe it’s true. You can go almost anywhere in the world and people will be familiar with Star Wars, the Avengers, Lord of the Rings, and many other movie worlds and franchises. Why? Because stories draw us in, and movies combine many art forms into one compelling format.

I strongly encourage everyone to take a deeper dive and learn more about various aspects of storytelling, screenwriting, cinematography, film scoring, and any other areas of interest related to movies. You will not only be equipped with a greater knowledge of how to interpret movies, but also with the capacity to enjoy them more.

And if you REALLY want to get serious about studying film, I recommend that you take a deep dive into the great film of all time: Citizen Kane.

3. “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.”

Dan referenced this quote from Dead Poets Society, a fantastic film that has inspired artists of all kinds. But what does it mean? It means that you are not meant to compromise or settle—you are meant to do everything you can to be your authentic self and give the world the gift only you can give. Don’t let your time on earth end without contributing a verse to the eternal epic of human history.

Resources

I also want to mention that today’s episode is brought to you by my latest book The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. This book is filled with practical tips to help you be more successful as an artist and creative person. It’s a short little book that you can read in less than 2 hours, but the lessons last a lifetime. The Artist’s Suitcase also makes a fantastic Christmas gift for someone on your list, or let’s be honest, a little something for yourself. Check it out at kentsanders.net/suitcase.

Podcast Partners:

Looking for Christmas gift ideas? My book The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey is the perfect gift for the artist or creative person in your life (or even yourself!)