Episode Details

Irish theologian, storyteller, poet, conflict mediator, and host of the podcast Poetry Unbound Pádraig Ó Tuama joins David to discuss the role of both narrative storytelling and poetry in relationship to encountering ‘the other.’ How can the stories we tell about ourselves prevent us from seeing who we are, from being open to accountability and change, open to encounter and transformation? How can certain stories, in contrast, be a means to bring people with deep grievances to the table, to move them toward recognition and repair? How does poetry, like prayer, orient us toward something beyond ourselves, beyond our meaning-making capacities, and how is that sort of encounter, with all that lies beyond our understanding, important to a human life? If you’ve ever asked some version of the eternal question—do poems and stories and art-making matter? If so, what do they do?—don’t miss today’s episode.

For the bonus audio archive Pádraig Ó Tuama reads some new poems, written as part of a collaborative project with some Scottish writers. He reads in both English and Irish. This joins bonus audio from many other writers including Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Alice Oswald, Layli Long Soldier, Jorie Graham, Nikky Finney, Richard Powers, and more. To learn about subscribing to the bonus audio and the other potential benefits of becoming a listener-supporter of the show head over to the Between the Covers Patreon Page.