On Being with Krista Tippett

Matthew Sanford, a renowned yoga teacher who has been paralyzed from the chest down since a car accident in 1978, talks about the mind-body connection, healing through storytelling, the energetic presence within the body, pain and healing, strength and vulnerability, reconnecting with the body, and trauma, transcendence, and yoga teaching.

Comedian, writer, and media entrepreneur Baratunde Thurston discusses his lifelong joy in the natural world and the importance of learning amidst cultural tangles. Topics include the exploration of spirituality, challenging stereotypes in outdoor spaces, the significance of his book 'How to Be Black' in race discussions, and the transformative power of collective action in being a citizen.

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and a venture capital partner, dives into the complexities of artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. He discusses the dual nature of AI, balancing hope with dystopia, and emphasizes the importance of designing benevolent AI that enhances human experience. Hoffman reflects on the interplay between friendship, creativity, and technology, exploring how AI can amplify our moral values. He shares insights on fostering meaningful interactions with AI, advocating for a future where technology and human connection thrive together.

Kerry Washington, a 'learning actor' known for her elegance and moral rigor in various roles, discusses acting as a devotional practice. Topics range from her experiences in bringing racially mixed audiences together to the impact of 'Scandal' on representation and diversity. She also delves into emotional reactions, the dehumanizing aspect of recognition, motherhood, and interracial relationships. A rich and insightful conversation on the evolution of the roles we play in our lives.

We love the theologian Kate Bowler's allergy to every platitude and her wisdom and wit about the strange and messy fullness of what it means to be in a human body. She's best known for her 2018 book Everything Happens for a Reason (And Other Lies I've Loved) — a poetic and powerful reflection on learning at age 35 that she had Stage IV colon cancer. From a reset on how to think about aging, to the new reality in our time of living with cancer as a chronic illness, to the telling of truths to our young, this beautiful conversation is full of the vividly whole humanity that Kate Bowler singularly embodies. (Also, as you'll hear, if she hadn't become a theologian, she might have been a stand-up comedian.)Krista and Kate spoke as part of the 2023 Aspen Ideas Festival.Kate Bowler's beloved books include Everything Happens for a Reason (And Other Lies I’ve Loved) and most recently, The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days. She is an associate professor at Duke Divinity School and made an early name in her field of American religious history with her 2013 book Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel. She also hosts the podcast Everything Happens.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org._____Sign up for The Pause — a Saturday morning companion to the podcast season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Beloved author and associate professor Kate Bowler talks about finding hope and assurance in the midst of uncertainty after experiencing a life-altering event.

Get ready for a new season of On Being with guests such as Kerry Washington, Kate Bowler, Reid Hoffman, Latanya Sweeney, Nick Cave, and Baratunde Thurston. They will explore topics like loss, love, AI, truth, and acting in this upcoming season starting on September 21st.

From Krista: I have been texting this exquisite poem from our archives to my beloveds. Perhaps it will touch you — hold you — as it is touching and holding me.ON ANOTHER PANEL ABOUT CLIMATE, THEY ASK ME TO SELL THE FUTURE AND ALL I'VE GOT IS A LOVE POEMTo call the young Pakistani-American poet, Ayisha Siddiqa, a "climate activist" feels too simple. She describes herself as a storyteller and human rights and land defender. She is a climate advisor to the U.N. Secretary General, and was a 2023 TIME Woman of the Year. The poem is read by the also extraordinary young marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, from her On Being conversation with Krista, What If We Get This Right? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello friends, it is a joy to introduce the new season of Poetry Unbound, which is underway. As Krista shares at the top, this episode has everything in it that makes Poetry Unbound such a gift in a noisy podcast world.If you enjoy this episode, subscribe to Poetry Unbound for new episodes every Monday and Friday through July — and stay tuned for a new season of On Being this fall. We’re pleased to offer Benjamin Gucciardi’s poem, “The Rungs,” and invite you to connect with Poetry Unbound throughout this season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pádraig makes an announcement, and we listen to a few lovely moments from the On Being season we've just brought into the world. We're inviting the beautiful humans who gather around On Being to partner in the vitality of the unfolding On Being Project in a new way. Our friend Maria Popova says it daringly, beautifully, and she's given us permission to adapt her equation. Giving = loving. Any amount of love and sustenance will be gratefully — indeed, gleefully — received.Learn more and make a gift: onbeing.org/LoveUs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.