To hold joy in your hand means to honor sadness in your heart, for the two are inextricable. This sentiment is one that many of us will recognize after a prolonged period of chaos and transformation. But for poet and author Ross Gay, studying these modes has paved the way for art that will stand the test of time. Enter Inciting Joy, Ross's latest essay collection, which “considers the joy we incite when we care for each other, especially during life's inevitable hardships.”

Through lenses like gardening and grief, Ross charts a loving exploration into what it means to connect in a world that challenges our time, attention, and hope. In this interview, Ross shared more about writing and re-encountering his life, the joys and lessons of aging, and the importance of change and curiosity. This episode also opens with a story from Caro, a multidisciplinary craft artist based in Los Angeles, California.

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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/ross-gay 

Learn more about Ross's work: https://www.rossgay.net/ 

Purchase Ross's books: https://bookshop.org/contributors/ross-gay 

Learn more about Caro's work: http://carolinerosoff.com/ 

Follow Caro: https://www.instagram.com/carolinerosoff