Pádraig Ó Tuama

Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet and host of On Being's Poetry Unbound, dives deep into embracing life's complexities. He emphasizes the transformative power of poetry and empathy in connecting with others. Through his engaging anecdotes, Pádraig explores the nuances of conflict resolution, urging listeners to cultivate curiosity and ask meaningful questions. He also reflects on the intricate link between belief, spirituality, and personal growth, encouraging a playful approach to understanding life's significant narratives.

Pádraig Ó Tuama, an Irish poet, theologian, and conflict mediator, shares his insights on the nature of belonging amidst disagreement. He discusses the exhaustion and fragility of peace and the surprising power of curiosity in bridging divides. Through personal reflections on identity and cultural tensions, Pádraig emphasizes the balance between comfort and cost in belonging. He advocates for empathy and dialogue, exploring the ongoing practice of nurturing peace and connection, all while recognizing the beauty and complexity of our shared humanity.

Pádraig Ó Tuama, an Irish theologian, poet, and conflict mediator, shares his insights on the enchanting power of poetry. He discusses how language can evoke delight or terror and the deep connection between poetry and spirituality. Pádraig reflects on the wisdom of Meister Eckhart and the role of poetry in healing divided communities. He also opens up about his journey, including his early call to the priesthood. Throughout the conversation, he reads some of his own evocative poems, emphasizing the transformative nature of words in our lives.

Three years ago, Krista texted Pádraig Ó Tuama with a simple question: what if he were to start a poetry podcast that listened as much as it shared? Not long after, Poetry Unbound was born, and it keeps going from strength to strength. Pádraig likes to say that poems are interested in the people who listen to them. And so, as the next season of On Being takes shape for release in early 2023, why not take Poetry Unbound as a listening companion and ritual this fall?Season six of Poetry Unbound just started, and we’re sharing the first episode around David Wagoner’s beloved poem “Lost” in this feed, the only episode we’ll feature here this season. You can listen to the rest on Apple, Spotify, at poetryunbound.org, and wherever podcasts are found. And be sure to subscribe to the show to receive a new episode every Monday and Friday through mid-December.

While preparing for the next season of Poetry Unbound, host Pádraig Ó Tuama sat down with Krista Tippett for a conversation about the power of poetry to find us at the exact moment we need it. Pádraig and Krista also invite listeners to share their experience of Poetry Unbound through our survey.You can also sign up for the latest updates from Poetry Unbound.

Pádraig Ó Tuama, an Irish poet and the mind behind the podcast Poetry Unbound, brings his unique insights into the human experience. He shares how he curated his anthology, 44 Poems on Being with Each Other, exploring the intricate dance between fear and love in poetry. Ó Tuama discusses the emotional depth of his collection, Kitchen Hymns, revealing how poetry can serve as a secular form of liturgy. He also tackles the complex themes of belief and personal reflection, highlighting poetry's transformative power.

Thomas Huebl discusses spirituality, trauma, and art with Pádraig Ó Tuama. They emphasize the importance of creating healing spaces through artistic expressions and structured rituals. The conversation focuses on acknowledging past traumas, connecting with nature, and fostering trust in the healing process.

Pádraig Ó Tuama, a poet and theologian known for his work on The On Being Project's Poetry Unbound, shares his insights into storytelling's power. He reads from his impactful series "Seven Deadly Songs," reflecting on his experiences growing up gay in Ireland. They dive into the Aisling poem's themes of identity and loss, discuss the role of narratives in healing, and creatively explore how prayer can clarify personal desires. The conversation blends personal struggles with literary references, making for a rich exploration of self and society.

Pádraig Ó Tuama, Irish poet and theologian, joins hosts Pete Enns and Jared Byas to explore the Bible through the lens of poetry. They discuss the relationship between poetry and theology, interpretations and cultural contexts of biblical texts, personal connection to Christianity and Catholicism, the power of imagination and wonder, and the role of curiosity and embracing different perspectives in interpreting the biblical story.

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a friend, teacher, and colleague to the work of On Being. But before that was true, Krista took a revelatory trip to meet him at his home in Northern Ireland, a place that has known sectarianism and violent fracture and has evolved, not to perfection, yet to new life and once unimaginable repair and relationship. Our whole world screams of fracture, more now than when Krista sat with Pádraig in 2016. This conversation is a gentle, welcoming landing for pondering and befriending hard realities we are given. As the global educator Karen Murphy, another friend of On Being and of Pádraig, once said to Krista: “Let’s have the humility and the generosity to step back and learn from these places that have had the courage to look at themselves and look at where they’ve been and try to forge a new path with something that resembles ‘together’ … Right now we should be taking these stories and these examples and these places and filling our pockets and our lungs and our hearts and our minds with them and learning deeply.” And that’s what this hour with Pádraig invites.Pádraig Ó Tuama is a theologian, writer, and conflict transformation practitioner. He is a member and former leader of the Corrymeela Community of Northern Ireland. His books include an incandescent memoir, In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World; a prayer book, Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community; a book of poetry, Sorry For Your Troubles; and a book of theology and politics co-authored with Glenn Jordan, Borders & Belonging. He hosts the On Being Studios podcast Poetry Unbound. His forthcoming book, Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World, will be published in October 2022 and is available for pre-order wherever you get your books. Pádraig grew up in the Republic of Ireland, near Cork.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.This show originally aired in March 2017.___________Sign up for The Pause to receive our seasonal Saturday morning newsletter and advance invitations and news on all things On Being.And: if you can, please take a minute to rate On Being in this podcast app — you'll be bending the arc of algorithms towards this adventure of conversation and living.