950 episodes

Wisdom to replenish and orient. Conversations to live by.

New episodes dropping every Thursday from September 21. On the intelligence that lives in the human body: love and loss, comedy and ecology, social creativity and poetry. Also, beyond the hype and the doom, what does the new AI call us to as human beings? With Kate Bowler, Kerry Washington, Nick Cave, Reid Hoffman, Latanya Sweeney, Baratunde Thurston … and more.

Also: classic, celebrated, beloved conversations in our 20-year archive: Mary Oliver. John O'Donohue. Thich Nhat Hanh. Desmond Tutu. And so much more.

On Being with Krista Tippett On Being Studios

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.6 • 9.5K Ratings

Wisdom to replenish and orient. Conversations to live by.

New episodes dropping every Thursday from September 21. On the intelligence that lives in the human body: love and loss, comedy and ecology, social creativity and poetry. Also, beyond the hype and the doom, what does the new AI call us to as human beings? With Kate Bowler, Kerry Washington, Nick Cave, Reid Hoffman, Latanya Sweeney, Baratunde Thurston … and more.

Also: classic, celebrated, beloved conversations in our 20-year archive: Mary Oliver. John O'Donohue. Thich Nhat Hanh. Desmond Tutu. And so much more.

    Kate Bowler — On Being in a Body

    Kate Bowler — On Being in a Body

    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.

    • 1 hr
    Kate Bowler — A Blessing for the Life You Didn't Choose

    Kate Bowler — A Blessing for the Life You Didn't Choose

    This blessing is featured in Kate’s conversation with Krista, “On Being in a Body.” It's published in her book The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days.

    • 1 min
    A New Season of On Being Is Coming

    A New Season of On Being Is Coming

    A big conversation to live by starting NEXT WEEK — every Thursday — from September 21.

    Loss — and love. AI — and the intelligence that lives in our bodies.

    Kerry Washington, Kate Bowler, Reid Hoffman, Latanya Sweeney, Nick Cave, Baratunde Thurston … and more.

    Subscribe, tell your friends, and buckle your (metaphorical) seatbelts.

    • 1 min
    "Love is still the only revenge. It grows each time the earth is set on fire."

    "Love is still the only revenge. It grows each time the earth is set on fire."

    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 POEM

    To 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?

    • 2 min
    From Poetry Unbound: Benjamin Gucciardi — The Rungs

    From Poetry Unbound: Benjamin Gucciardi — The Rungs

    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.

    • 16 min
    Patronage and Love: On Being's Becoming

    Patronage and Love: On Being's Becoming

    Pádraig makes an announcement, and we listen to a few lovely moments from the On Being season we've just brought into the world.

    • 1 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
9.5K Ratings

9.5K Ratings

AargF ,

Thank God you’re back

On Being was my intro to podcasts. I started with the best and that set a very high bar! I’ve missed the intelligence, humor and thoughtfulness I find every week with Krista. Like an old friend coming home, thank you Krista for “being on” for all of us!

ajnatile.1 ,

Love love

Thank so much for being here for all of us! Sharing beautiful stories and thoughts ✌️🙏

Amygp ,

Thank God you’re back

Oh how I’ve missed this podcast during it’s seasonal hiatus! Krista is a master at getting deep on the subjects her guests bring to the table, she is a master. I savor every episode like I would a favorite poem or a glass of wine after a long day, it’s satiating to the soul. Thank you Krista 🙏

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