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What Bigfoot can teach us about curiosity | Ranae Holland | TEDxSeattle


I am a trained professional scientist

I am a trained professional scientist who has spent the last six years of my

who has spent the last six years of my

who has spent the last six years of my life searching for Bigfoot now I know I

life searching for Bigfoot now I know I

life searching for Bigfoot now I know I know that sounds like an oxymoron right

know that sounds like an oxymoron right

know that sounds like an oxymoron right like Fox News searching for the truth

like Fox News searching for the truth

like Fox News searching for the truth [Laughter]

but is it an oxymoron cuz I’m not so

but is it an oxymoron cuz I’m not so sure anymore now if you guys have never

sure anymore now if you guys have never

sure anymore now if you guys have never seen my TV show it’s like a real-life

seen my TV show it’s like a real-life

seen my TV show it’s like a real-life x-files where I’m Scully but with three

x-files where I’m Scully but with three

x-files where I’m Scully but with three Mulder’s my co-hosts are three men who

Mulder’s my co-hosts are three men who

Mulder’s my co-hosts are three men who adamantly believe Bigfoot is real and

adamantly believe Bigfoot is real and

adamantly believe Bigfoot is real and they’re regularly exasperated that I’m

they’re regularly exasperated that I’m

they’re regularly exasperated that I’m not swayed by what they consider hard

not swayed by what they consider hard

not swayed by what they consider hard evidence and as the only member of the

evidence and as the only member of the

evidence and as the only member of the team with a degree in biological science

team with a degree in biological science

team with a degree in biological science my standard for proof is wee bit higher

my standard for proof is wee bit higher

my standard for proof is wee bit higher but despite these differences we still

but despite these differences we still

but despite these differences we still make it work now you’re all probably

make it work now you’re all probably

make it work now you’re all probably wondering why am I willing to be on a TV

wondering why am I willing to be on a TV

wondering why am I willing to be on a TV show about something in which I don’t

show about something in which I don’t

show about something in which I don’t believe and for which there’s no proof

believe and for which there’s no proof

believe and for which there’s no proof why would I endure traipsing the globe

why would I endure traipsing the globe

why would I endure traipsing the globe through extreme weather battling

through extreme weather battling

through extreme weather battling mosquitoes leeches ticks limited to

mosquitoes leeches ticks limited to

mosquitoes leeches ticks limited to paltry food options and confined in an

paltry food options and confined in an

paltry food options and confined in an SUV for countless hours with my Bigfoot

SUV for countless hours with my Bigfoot

SUV for countless hours with my Bigfoot hugging co-hosts believe me guys I have

hugging co-hosts believe me guys I have

hugging co-hosts believe me guys I have been frequently asking myself these

been frequently asking myself these

been frequently asking myself these questions but what defines me and what

questions but what defines me and what

questions but what defines me and what keeps me going the answer is something

keeps me going the answer is something

keeps me going the answer is something that has driven me all my life curiosity

that has driven me all my life curiosity

that has driven me all my life curiosity and curiosity is at the core of

and curiosity is at the core of

and curiosity is at the core of scientific inquiry because in my life

scientific inquiry because in my life

scientific inquiry because in my life you guys have to understand I had my own

you guys have to understand I had my own

you guys have to understand I had my own version of Bigfoot my father he was a

version of Bigfoot my father he was a

version of Bigfoot my father he was a larger-than-life figure literally you

larger-than-life figure literally you

larger-than-life figure literally you could take a quarter and drop it through

could take a quarter and drop it through

could take a quarter and drop it through his reading ring and our special bond

his reading ring and our special bond

his reading ring and our special bond with stories about Bigfoot my father

with stories about Bigfoot my father

with stories about Bigfoot my father challenged me about the unknown he

challenged me about the unknown he

challenged me about the unknown he didn’t tell me what to think he asked me

didn’t tell me what to think he asked me

didn’t tell me what to think he asked me what I thought I have him to thank for

what I thought I have him to thank for

what I thought I have him to thank for my fascination with Bigfoot the unknown

my fascination with Bigfoot the unknown

my fascination with Bigfoot the unknown and enriching my young curious mind and

and enriching my young curious mind and

and enriching my young curious mind and that’s the reason I originally began

that’s the reason I originally began

that’s the reason I originally began this journey but to be honest the reason

this journey but to be honest the reason

this journey but to be honest the reason I’ve stayed on it it’s the kids that

I’ve stayed on it it’s the kids that

I’ve stayed on it it’s the kids that I’ve met while filming the show kids who

I’ve met while filming the show kids who

I’ve met while filming the show kids who with a look of wonder in

with a look of wonder in

with a look of wonder in their eyes cannot wait to search for

their eyes cannot wait to search for

their eyes cannot wait to search for Bigfoot and knowing that these kids are

Bigfoot and knowing that these kids are

Bigfoot and knowing that these kids are inspired by the possibility Bigfoot but

inspired by the possibility Bigfoot but

inspired by the possibility Bigfoot but they’re motivated to unplug and get

they’re motivated to unplug and get

they’re motivated to unplug and get outdoors and discover nature for

outdoors and discover nature for

outdoors and discover nature for themselves that’s what keeps me going

themselves that’s what keeps me going

themselves that’s what keeps me going because these junior future naturalist

because these junior future naturalist

because these junior future naturalist they’re my pride and joy and to be blunt

they’re my pride and joy and to be blunt

they’re my pride and joy and to be blunt if it weren’t for these kids

if it weren’t for these kids

if it weren’t for these kids I could not sustain myself on this crazy

I could not sustain myself on this crazy

I could not sustain myself on this crazy circus sideshow I’m grateful to Bigfoot

circus sideshow I’m grateful to Bigfoot

circus sideshow I’m grateful to Bigfoot for feeding their curiosity now

for feeding their curiosity now

for feeding their curiosity now somewhere along the way and become an

somewhere along the way and become an

somewhere along the way and become an adult I held dear to the words of Carl

adult I held dear to the words of Carl

adult I held dear to the words of Carl Sagan every kid starts out as a

Sagan every kid starts out as a

Sagan every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist and then we beat

natural-born scientist and then we beat

natural-born scientist and then we beat it out of them but if you trickle

it out of them but if you trickle

it out of them but if you trickle through the system with their wandering

through the system with their wandering

through the system with their wandering thoose II azzam intact so what’s

thoose II azzam intact so what’s

thoose II azzam intact so what’s happened to us guys how did we go from

happened to us guys how did we go from

happened to us guys how did we go from kids always asking questions to jaded

kids always asking questions to jaded

kids always asking questions to jaded cynics assuming we have all the answers

why don’t we all believe in Bigfoot I

why don’t we all believe in Bigfoot I love the idea of Bigfoot I’m fascinated

love the idea of Bigfoot I’m fascinated

love the idea of Bigfoot I’m fascinated by the phenomena and that’s not in spite

by the phenomena and that’s not in spite

by the phenomena and that’s not in spite of the fact that I’m the scientist it’s

of the fact that I’m the scientist it’s

of the fact that I’m the scientist it’s the reason I’m a scientist see that

the reason I’m a scientist see that

the reason I’m a scientist see that wonder and curiosity that my father

wonder and curiosity that my father

wonder and curiosity that my father nurtured in me it led me to the path of

nurtured in me it led me to the path of

nurtured in me it led me to the path of science and field research it shaped the

science and field research it shaped the

science and field research it shaped the way that I view the world because

way that I view the world because

way that I view the world because despite what we once thought we won’t

despite what we once thought we won’t

despite what we once thought we won’t fall off the edge of the earth and

fall off the edge of the earth and

fall off the edge of the earth and that’s not a flaming chariot up in the

that’s not a flaming chariot up in the

that’s not a flaming chariot up in the sky keeping us warm and walls don’t keep

sky keeping us warm and walls don’t keep

sky keeping us warm and walls don’t keep people out of countries

none of that has changed by how many

none of that has changed by how many beans to the contrary are shared on

beans to the contrary are shared on

beans to the contrary are shared on Facebook but even still while I’m always

Facebook but even still while I’m always

Facebook but even still while I’m always skeptical

skeptical

skeptical I’m never cynical and as a left-handed

I’m never cynical and as a left-handed

I’m never cynical and as a left-handed environmental activist out lesbian and

environmental activist out lesbian and

environmental activist out lesbian and woman in science I’m accustomed to being

woman in science I’m accustomed to being

woman in science I’m accustomed to being an outsider and I’ve developed a warrior

an outsider and I’ve developed a warrior

an outsider and I’ve developed a warrior grit in fortitude but I’ve also learned

grit in fortitude but I’ve also learned

grit in fortitude but I’ve also learned that when sharing my perspective with

that when sharing my perspective with

that when sharing my perspective with others a gracious approach helps helps

others a gracious approach helps helps

others a gracious approach helps helps us remove those obstacles to a sincere

us remove those obstacles to a sincere

us remove those obstacles to a sincere conversation but we still need to

conversation but we still need to

conversation but we still need to acknowledge you’re not always gonna get

acknowledge you’re not always gonna get

acknowledge you’re not always gonna get an answer but rest in the fact that you

an answer but rest in the fact that you

an answer but rest in the fact that you can learn something along the way I need

can learn something along the way I need

can learn something along the way I need you to understand the reality of my

you to understand the reality of my

you to understand the reality of my reality TV experience is not so much

reality TV experience is not so much

reality TV experience is not so much finding bigfoot’ as it is finding people

finding bigfoot’ as it is finding people

finding bigfoot’ as it is finding people who claim to have found Bigfoot I cannot

who claim to have found Bigfoot I cannot

who claim to have found Bigfoot I cannot cross the boundaries of a Cabela’s

cross the boundaries of a Cabela’s

cross the boundaries of a Cabela’s Walmart small town pub for that matter

Walmart small town pub for that matter

Walmart small town pub for that matter without being approached by someone who

without being approached by someone who

without being approached by someone who professes to have had an encounter and

professes to have had an encounter and

professes to have had an encounter and again and again I’m placed in this

again and again I’m placed in this

again and again I’m placed in this precarious position where I interview

precarious position where I interview

precarious position where I interview witnesses with profound emotion so where

witnesses with profound emotion so where

witnesses with profound emotion so where they saw a hairy eight-foot biped run

they saw a hairy eight-foot biped run

they saw a hairy eight-foot biped run off with their dog goat wife what have

off with their dog goat wife what have

off with their dog goat wife what have you but it’s curiosity that propels me

you but it’s curiosity that propels me

you but it’s curiosity that propels me to understand what really happened to

to understand what really happened to

to understand what really happened to them now mind you I don’t believe

them now mind you I don’t believe

them now mind you I don’t believe Bigfoot’s of biological undiscovered

Bigfoot’s of biological undiscovered

Bigfoot’s of biological undiscovered species running amok in the woods

species running amok in the woods

species running amok in the woods anymore that I believe that creeks in

anymore that I believe that creeks in

anymore that I believe that creeks in the floorboard in the middle of night is

the floorboard in the middle of night is

the floorboard in the middle of night is yours deceased relatives gathered around

yours deceased relatives gathered around

yours deceased relatives gathered around to watch you sleep but what surprises me

to watch you sleep but what surprises me

to watch you sleep but what surprises me most is after each investigation the

most is after each investigation the

most is after each investigation the definite connection I make with the

definite connection I make with the

definite connection I make with the witnesses despite but in every case

witnesses despite but in every case

witnesses despite but in every case Bigfoots eluded us yet again one thing I

Bigfoots eluded us yet again one thing I

Bigfoots eluded us yet again one thing I have discovered through my show is there

have discovered through my show is there

have discovered through my show is there are a lot of people that believe in

are a lot of people that believe in

are a lot of people that believe in Bigfoot and many of these folks will go

Bigfoot and many of these folks will go

Bigfoot and many of these folks will go to great lengths to try to convince you

to great lengths to try to convince you

to great lengths to try to convince you to believe the way that they do they

to believe the way that they do they

to believe the way that they do they believe it but they want you to believe

believe it but they want you to believe

believe it but they want you to believe – sound familiar folks

wooden wouldn’t it be wonderful if

wooden wouldn’t it be wonderful if curiosity led us to want to discover the

curiosity led us to want to discover the

curiosity led us to want to discover the truth regardless of how we feel but

truth regardless of how we feel but

truth regardless of how we feel but instead these days it seems everyone has

instead these days it seems everyone has

instead these days it seems everyone has their own opinion in their own version

their own opinion in their own version

their own opinion in their own version of proof and they will fight

of proof and they will fight

of proof and they will fight passionately for and against it each of

passionately for and against it each of

passionately for and against it each of these conversations has the potential to

these conversations has the potential to

these conversations has the potential to devolve into an argument and you see the

devolve into an argument and you see the

devolve into an argument and you see the difference is opinion all around us

difference is opinion all around us

difference is opinion all around us exactly you know there’s our politics

exactly you know there’s our politics

exactly you know there’s our politics climate change LGBTQ equality if Bigfoot

climate change LGBTQ equality if Bigfoot

climate change LGBTQ equality if Bigfoot is really guys and has observed the way

is really guys and has observed the way

is really guys and has observed the way that people conduct themselves I

that people conduct themselves I

that people conduct themselves I wouldn’t blame it for staying out of

wouldn’t blame it for staying out of

wouldn’t blame it for staying out of sight

sight

sight because I’d sure as hell stay hidden too

so how do we find balance between your

so how do we find balance between your beliefs and another’s without belittling

beliefs and another’s without belittling

beliefs and another’s without belittling and making the other side feel

and making the other side feel

and making the other side feel ridiculous and how we become so

ridiculous and how we become so

ridiculous and how we become so polarized we can’t even have a

polarized we can’t even have a

polarized we can’t even have a conversation anymore as diamond Lee as

conversation anymore as diamond Lee as

conversation anymore as diamond Lee as these Bigfoot believers cling to its

these Bigfoot believers cling to its

these Bigfoot believers cling to its existence I cling to the belief the idea

existence I cling to the belief the idea

existence I cling to the belief the idea that the power of curiosity can motivate

that the power of curiosity can motivate

that the power of curiosity can motivate us to gracefully debate but I’m still

us to gracefully debate but I’m still

us to gracefully debate but I’m still curious guys I have to wonder where did

curious guys I have to wonder where did

curious guys I have to wonder where did the folks who believe a massive furry

the folks who believe a massive furry

the folks who believe a massive furry man ape is run around the woods stray

man ape is run around the woods stray

man ape is run around the woods stray from real science as desperately as

from real science as desperately as

from real science as desperately as these believers want to know that it’s

these believers want to know that it’s

these believers want to know that it’s real they can’t prove it and since they

real they can’t prove it and since they

real they can’t prove it and since they can’t prove it they’ll go to great

can’t prove it they’ll go to great

can’t prove it they’ll go to great lengths to insist you’re wrong use

lengths to insist you’re wrong use

lengths to insist you’re wrong use opinions as fact ad nauseam and I’ve

opinions as fact ad nauseam and I’ve

opinions as fact ad nauseam and I’ve heard them all they’re smarter than us

heard them all they’re smarter than us

heard them all they’re smarter than us they bury their dead they’re aliens

they bury their dead they’re aliens

they bury their dead they’re aliens they taught Elvis how to hide

they taught Elvis how to hide

they taught Elvis how to hide and they never have definitive

and they never have definitive

and they never have definitive scientific proof my dog ran off with the

scientific proof my dog ran off with the

scientific proof my dog ran off with the bones

bones

bones I lost the hair sample the batteries and

I lost the hair sample the batteries and

I lost the hair sample the batteries and the camera were bad my brothers uncles

the camera were bad my brothers uncles

the camera were bad my brothers uncles cousins plumber doesn’t want the

cousins plumber doesn’t want the

cousins plumber doesn’t want the attention

attention

attention these folks are more proven to deliver

these folks are more proven to deliver

these folks are more proven to deliver their point then the artists solve the

their point then the artists solve the

their point then the artists solve the mystery

mystery

mystery now if Bigfoot’s not real I’m curious

now if Bigfoot’s not real I’m curious

now if Bigfoot’s not real I’m curious what are these witnesses experiencing as

what are these witnesses experiencing as

what are these witnesses experiencing as a scientist that’s what I want to know

a scientist that’s what I want to know

a scientist that’s what I want to know because thousands of people per year

because thousands of people per year

because thousands of people per year report seeing a Bigfoot and of course I

report seeing a Bigfoot and of course I

report seeing a Bigfoot and of course I firmly believe there are biological and

firmly believe there are biological and

firmly believe there are biological and psychological explanations for these

psychological explanations for these

psychological explanations for these reports and after interviewing countless

reports and after interviewing countless

reports and after interviewing countless witnesses I’ve conducted my own pseudo

witnesses I’ve conducted my own pseudo

witnesses I’ve conducted my own pseudo scientific survey and I’ve created a

scientific survey and I’ve created a

scientific survey and I’ve created a chart with categories to better explain

chart with categories to better explain

chart with categories to better explain the phenomenon now in my opinion I

the phenomenon now in my opinion I

the phenomenon now in my opinion I believe that majority the reports can be

believe that majority the reports can be

believe that majority the reports can be identified as misidentification such as

identified as misidentification such as

identified as misidentification such as staking a beaver for a Bigfoot

no this this this recently happened in

no this this this recently happened in New Mexico you guys I know because I was

New Mexico you guys I know because I was

New Mexico you guys I know because I was there

there

there not only do Bears and haters get

not only do Bears and haters get

not only do Bears and haters get confused for Bigfoot but I’m telling you

confused for Bigfoot but I’m telling you

confused for Bigfoot but I’m telling you in the wrong perspective a sketchy

in the wrong perspective a sketchy

in the wrong perspective a sketchy squirrel can look menacing

squirrel can look menacing

squirrel can look menacing now the next category I call pareidolia

now the next category I call pareidolia

now the next category I call pareidolia which is a psychological phenomena where

which is a psychological phenomena where

which is a psychological phenomena where one perceives meaningful meaningful

one perceives meaningful meaningful

one perceives meaningful meaningful images in in these random patterns

essentially you see a face on the

essentially you see a face on the surface of Mars or Jesus on the dogs

surface of Mars or Jesus on the dogs

surface of Mars or Jesus on the dogs button mother Teresa on a cinnamon bun

button mother Teresa on a cinnamon bun

button mother Teresa on a cinnamon bun or a comforting familiar face on toast

essentially we’re talking about Bigfoot

essentially we’re talking about Bigfoot on the brain

on the brain

on the brain now another category is is basically

now another category is is basically

now another category is is basically hoaxes we have our pranksters and

hoaxes we have our pranksters and

hoaxes we have our pranksters and everybody everybody loves a good hoax

everybody everybody loves a good hoax

everybody everybody loves a good hoax right and some folks have created

right and some folks have created

right and some folks have created amusingly elaborate costumes and

amusingly elaborate costumes and

amusingly elaborate costumes and sometimes people just lie about seeing

sometimes people just lie about seeing

sometimes people just lie about seeing Bigfoot sometimes your brain and your

Bigfoot sometimes your brain and your

Bigfoot sometimes your brain and your gut tell you that the report is

gut tell you that the report is

gut tell you that the report is mendacious which is a fancy described

mendacious which is a fancy described

mendacious which is a fancy described deception it’s still other reports they

deception it’s still other reports they

deception it’s still other reports they can be explained as a medical

can be explained as a medical

can be explained as a medical classification albeit sensory limitation

classification albeit sensory limitation

classification albeit sensory limitation or an altered state now I strongly

or an altered state now I strongly

or an altered state now I strongly suspect the reports of Bigfoot sightings

suspect the reports of Bigfoot sightings

suspect the reports of Bigfoot sightings will will increase substantially

will will increase substantially

will will increase substantially wherever marijuana is legalized and

wherever marijuana is legalized and

wherever marijuana is legalized and finally we have this this unexplained

finally we have this this unexplained

finally we have this this unexplained category so what about this 0.08 6% now

category so what about this 0.08 6% now

category so what about this 0.08 6% now I cannot categorize explain or reckon

I cannot categorize explain or reckon

I cannot categorize explain or reckon the guests would happen in those

the guests would happen in those

the guests would happen in those instances but after reviewing my fancy

instances but after reviewing my fancy

instances but after reviewing my fancy chart

chart

chart I mean I’m humble enough to say that I

I mean I’m humble enough to say that I

I mean I’m humble enough to say that I don’t know everything and maybe

don’t know everything and maybe

don’t know everything and maybe something is out there so where does

something is out there so where does

something is out there so where does this leave us it’s just my experience

this leave us it’s just my experience

this leave us it’s just my experience what will you take away from it when

what will you take away from it when

what will you take away from it when presented with the unknown will you jump

presented with the unknown will you jump

presented with the unknown will you jump to a conclusion a preconceived notion or

to a conclusion a preconceived notion or

to a conclusion a preconceived notion or will you embrace skepticism and let

will you embrace skepticism and let

will you embrace skepticism and let science be your guide is that a sunset

science be your guide is that a sunset

science be your guide is that a sunset are they putting the chariot away was

are they putting the chariot away was

are they putting the chariot away was that Bigfoot or just another beaver

that Bigfoot or just another beaver

that Bigfoot or just another beaver science is a way of thinking much more

science is a way of thinking much more

science is a way of thinking much more than it’s a body of knowledge I really

than it’s a body of knowledge I really

than it’s a body of knowledge I really believe this and this is the point right

believe this and this is the point right

believe this and this is the point right here

here

here it’s what those kids have that so many

it’s what those kids have that so many

it’s what those kids have that so many of us lose

of us lose

of us lose a childlike curiosity that we could all

a childlike curiosity that we could all

a childlike curiosity that we could all use a lot more of who knows what Bigfoot

use a lot more of who knows what Bigfoot

use a lot more of who knows what Bigfoot is if anything at all after six years of

is if anything at all after six years of

is if anything at all after six years of looking I haven’t found it but it’s that

looking I haven’t found it but it’s that

looking I haven’t found it but it’s that unknown the unknown that Spurs the

unknown the unknown that Spurs the

unknown the unknown that Spurs the curious an investigative little girl

curious an investigative little girl

curious an investigative little girl inside of me that grew into a scientist

inside of me that grew into a scientist

inside of me that grew into a scientist a skeptical scientist so I asked please

a skeptical scientist so I asked please

a skeptical scientist so I asked please keep your ears your eyes your mind open

keep your ears your eyes your mind open

keep your ears your eyes your mind open to and if you do happen to see Bigfoot

to and if you do happen to see Bigfoot

to and if you do happen to see Bigfoot please give me a call thanks you guys

”

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