"The minister of loneliness" | Sarah Kay
Host Elise Hugh introduces poet Sarah Kay, who performs a spoken word piece about loneliness, connection, and curiosity. Kay begins with a real statistic about suicide and COVID-19 in Japan and the creation of a government role called the "minister of loneliness." She then imagines, in poetic detail, what such a minister might do to reweave social bonds, from buddy systems and intergenerational contact to shared art, hotlines, and his own shy crush that keeps listeners engaged with life.
Sunday Pick: How to love your hometown (w/ Hanif Abdurraqib & Sarah Kay) | How to Be a Better Human
Host Chris Duffy visits writer and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, joined by poet Sarah Kay, to explore what it means to love where you are from. Through stops at a record store, sneaker shop, public park, and bookstore, Hanif shows how everyday interactions, generosity, and attention build a sense of home and community. He also shares a personal story about being unhoused and the quiet kindness that shaped his understanding of care and shared time.
(#3) Elise's Top Ten: If I should have a daughter ... | Sarah Kay
Host Elise Hu introduces a special rebroadcast of Sarah Kay's 2011 TED performance as part of her "Top 10 TED Talks" playlist, highlighting the spoken word poem "If I Should Have a Daughter." In the talk, Sarah performs two poems and reflects on how spoken word poetry helps her and her students make sense of the world, move from self-doubt to self-expression, and build genuine connection. She shares her own journey into spoken word, her teaching practice with Project Voice, and stories like that of her student Charlotte to illustrate the power of vulnerability and personal storytelling.