Four Inane Questions with local author and speaker Dr. Nicole Price
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Nicole Price
Dr. Nicole Price tells us she’s Kansas City through and through. She grew up one block east of Troost, where the smell of Gates Bar-B-Q was an everyday temptation. (We’ve all been there, yes?)
If you’ve followed Dr. Price’s career trajectory for any length of time, you’ll notice it’s anything but linear. She even states in her bio that she took an unconventional route to becoming an author.
The self-proclaimed empathy revolutionary garnered an engineering degree, a master’s in adult education, and then her doctorate in leadership and management.
But then, as she reveals, life threw her a curveball. A surprise DNA discovery led her to confront emotions she once avoided, inspiring her best-selling book Spark the Heart: Engineering Empathy in Your Organization and the no-holds-barred Redeemed: Lessons About Anger from the Holy Educated Muthaf*cka.
Now, the author of seven books helps leaders be better at their jobs as the founder of Lively Paradox—a leadership development company that proves empathy isn’t soft, it’s smart.
And, fun fact—When she’s not speaking on big stages, you can catch her practicing her stand-up skills at local improv comedy clubs. We caught up with the speaker in between seminars to zing her with our zesty questionnaire. She now holds the record for fastest response time ever. Bless.
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Nicole Price
The Pitch: Out of all the types of rugs in the world, what’s your absolute favorite?
Dr. Nicole Price: Wool, antique carpets, because luxury is not just for the feet, it’s for the soul. A good rug is like a wise elder: rich with history, well-worn but still standing, and full of stories if you pay attention. I like my rugs like I like my wisdom: timeless, intricate, and able to withstand generations of people walking all over them.
A fabulous rug is measured by how well it handles the traffic, not how it looks fresh out of the store. Plus, nothing says “I have my life together” like a rug that costs more than your first car. My first whip cost $600, so there’s that!
What board game/card game do you find absolutely impossible to master?
Spades. Not because I can’t play, but because I respect my life. Black folks take this game so seriously—I’ve seen lifelong friendships dissolve over a bad partner. Renege once, and suddenly you’re on trial at the family reunion with people you haven’t seen since Obama’s first term. My memory is sharp, but my tolerance for generational side-eyes? Low.
What are your thoughts on stained glass windows? Yes? No? Maybe?
Stained glass is a whole vibe—in the right setting. In a church? Yes, holy. In my home? Maybe—If it has all of my favorite colors, is modifiable, and is giving Black Renaissance and not “castle where women weren’t allowed to read.”
I’m open to it, but it has to scream me and not medieval repression with a side of incense.
How many decorative pillows are too many decorative pillows on a bed?
Too few and you’re a minimalist; too many and you’re a hoarder. I consider myself a maximalist, so ten, because I have nine. Am I full of excess? Maybe, but I am currently on an anti-consumerism kick.
Decorative pillows are a social experiment—How many can you own before they become an obstacle course? I like to live on the edge, but I also need to be able to get into bed without signing a liability waiver. That being said, if the right pillow comes along, I always make room.
Bonus 5th Question: If you were a famous sculpture, what famous sculpture would you be?
Lady Liberty—but the original version with broken shackles in her hands, not that watered-down remix with the chains hidden at her feet. The one that actually represented freedom, before we softened the message.
The current statue is cute, but I want the full truth—broken chains up, visible, undeniable. Don’t just tell me I’m free, show me.
