Think and Drink: Why Kids Ask So Many Questions

Before they ever set foot in kindergarten, a child asks something on the order of 40,000 questions that demand a real explanation. Most get waved away or answered with whatever will end the conversation fastest. But the research is clear that children aren’t asking for attention. They are hunting for how the world actually works, and they can tell the difference between a real answer and one that tries to end the conversation. 

This talk starts with the science of why kids ask, and what is happening inside a young brain when they do. Then it turns to the rest of us. Drawing on a decade spent explaining wars, outbreaks, and famines to people who needed to understand them, our guest speaker, Ken Sofer, makes the case that explaining something to a five-year-old is the same discipline that breaks down the walls between experts, brings people together across fields that don’t speak the same language, and gets hard problems solved.

Don’t miss this fascinating program that expands how to answer questions to all of us, not just children. This free Think & Drink lecture is open to all ESU members and the public, but RSVP is required. You will also receive at least one reminder email about the event when you RSVP.

When: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6:00 pm

Location: Casual Animal Brewing, 1725 McGee Street Kansas City, MO

Tickets: Free admission but RSVP is required. Click here and scroll down to November 19 to RSVP.

Parking: Street parking available but arrive early for best choices and for best non-reserved open seating.

About Ken Sofer

Ken is the Founder & Principal of New Colossus Advisors and a UMKC Foreign Policy Professor. He is a policy expert, global advocate, and strategic communicator with more than 15 years of experience advising global NGOs, think tanks, and senior executives. Alongside leading New Colossus Advisors, he is a foreign policy professor at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, bringing real-world insights into the classroom on the practice of international affairs, global strategy, and advocacy.

Ken’s work has appeared in major global outlets including Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, and BBC World. Ken’s expertise spans climate policy, humanitarian response, geopolitical strategy, and emerging technologies. He holds a Master in Public Affairs (MPA) from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a BA in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Southern California. Originally from Hermosa Beach, California, Ken is the proud child of a Japanese immigrant and Iraqi-Jewish refugees. 

About Think & Drink Lecture Series:

Think & Drink is an exciting new kind of event that combines educational topics with social gatherings. This one-hour lecture program was launched in July of 2025 by Casual Animal Brewing Company, a microbrewery in the East Crossroads area, south of downtown Kansas City. The lectures are held on the first and third Thursday of every month and bring together experts, academics, and curious minds for evening talks on topics that generate fresh perspectives, ideas, and discussion. No topic is off the table.