It was April of 2019 when we first aired our three-part series on “Hope.” Over the three hours, there are sixteen interviews or readings from guests on subjects ranging from climate change to spirituality to activism. We asked listeners and readers too, "What gives you hope?"
At that time, we had not yet heard of COVID-19, and we did not know how a divisive election and insurrection on the U.S. Capitol would change us individually and collectively. But more recently, with the roll out of the vaccines and the presidential inauguration filled with poetry and song and civil discourse between leaders of both political parties, I had a feeling that was familiar. This mix of happiness and sadness and relief, I think, is hope.
For the next three weeks, we’re re-airing the series “Hope,” because it seems more relevant and vital than ever. We need to re-imagine where hope can lead us now.
One of my favorite interviews I’ve done for TTBOOK is with Alice Walker, who I talked with in person in Traverse City, Michigan, about whether anger is useful. At the same time she read one of her new poems, “Hope is A Woman Who Has Lost Her Fear,” which became a beautiful part of this week’s show, “Hope: Where Does It Come From?” Musician Wendel Patrick set Walker’s poem to music for us. The very act of listening to it gives me hope. How does it make you feel?