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Poet Ross Gay believes in joy. But he pays careful attention to how one defines that word.

It is not simply happiness or delight, he says in his new book “

.” Rather, it is what grows from the fertile soil of breaking and belonging. It is the light that emanates from us when we help each other carry our sorrows.

Gay was in St. Paul in November of 2022 to talk with MPR News host Kerri Miller for the 

finale of the 2022 Talking Volumes season

. The evening also featured music from Minneapolis artist 

Enjoy that conversation as an appetizer to what’s coming this Friday, when Miller talks with psychologist and professor 

 about his new book that delves into the impact of another universal emotion — awe. 

To listen to a lightly edited version of the Talking Volumes conversation, use the audio player above. Note that it does contain some explicit language. You can also find 

Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on 

for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

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This Friday, on Big Books and Bold Idea, host Kerri Miller talks with psychologist and researcher Dacher Keltner about the science of awe, and how this universal emotion can transform our brains and bodies. So we felt it fitting to bring you a discussion of joy for this week’s archive. Enjoy poet Ross Gay at Talking Volumes last fall discussing his book, “Inciting Joy.” 

From the archives: Ross Gay on 'Inciting Joy'

A book cover and a picture of the author.

From the archives: Ross Gay on 'Inciting Joy'

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