Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

Listen Again: Kwame Alexander—To Be Loved Like That

Jul 9, 2024

Bestselling author and poet, Kwame Alexander, discusses navigating grief, parental love, and sharing past experiences with kids. Exploring the complexities of relationships and expressing love in different ways, this heartfelt conversation delves into the beauty and challenges of love.

37:42

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Episode guests

Kwame Alexander

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Quick takeaways

Navigating complex relationships with loved ones requires understanding different love languages and nurturing mutual respect.

Transformative power of forgiveness and empathy is highlighted through unexpected connections, fostering deep friendships and healing relationships.

Deep dives

Kwame Alexander's Journey to Writing and Self-Discovery

Kwame Alexander, renowned author, shares how he unexpectedly transitioned from aspiring to be a pediatrician to becoming a prolific writer. Despite reluctance towards reading due to his father's emphasis on intellectual pursuits, encountering a poetry class and influential individuals led him back to his love for words and books, shaping his path as a writer. Through personal anecdotes, he reflects on pivotal moments like his interaction with mentor Nikki Giovanni, highlighting the evolution of his writing journey and self-discovery.

Intro

3min

Gifts Aligning with Callings and Evolving Relationships

6min

Unlikely Love Stories and Gratitude

5min

Navigating Loss, Grief, and Writing

15min

Exploring Parental Love and Understanding Different Ways of Expressing Affection

5min

A Parent's Legacy of Love and Reflection

6min

Facing Difficult Conversations and Cherishing Moments with Babies

7min

Our most precious relationships are often our most complicated, aren’t they? Poet and bestselling author Kwame Alexander wrote an honest book of poems and essays that name the difficult and beautiful and heart-wrenching conversations we have (or should be having) with the people we love and with the ones who love us.

In this conversation, Kwame and Kate discuss:

How we can’t outrun our grief
How our own parents love us in the ways they want to be loved, but maybe not in the ways we need—and how we find our ways back to each other
The desire to share with our kids how we love, where we fail, where we tried, and who we were before we were their parent

CW: death of parent, divorce

***

Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here or visiting katebowler.com/podcasts.

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Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

Listen Again: Kwame Alexander—To Be Loved Like That

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Kwame Alexander's Journey to Writing and Self-Discovery

Navigating Unlikely Relationships and Healing Through Unexpected Connections

Embracing Vulnerability and Confronting Grief in Personal Struggles

Reinterpreting Parental Love and Legacy Through Writing and Healing Narratives

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts