The heaviness of this world, in this particular space in time, is what sparked the creation of this podcast four years ago. Seeking out joy in the daily lives of regular people. Today’s episode lives in that space.
The genesis of this episode lies with an article I read as I was making my morning coffee about the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this summer. Threatened by a terrorist plot, authorities closed down the phenom, breaking the hearts of some 200,000 fans who’d hope to attend. On its own, this story is simply a sign of our times. The mayhem on our streets playing itself out in myriad ways from day to day, heaping sadness and disappointment on many… but hey, it’s only a concert, right?
As I try to find and showcase the good in life, this piece about how the fans responded to the cancellation gives me hope that ultimately, things will be ok. In the face of challenge, human beings are amazing, and these fans, no less: finding meaning in their shared loved, sharing connection, exhibiting resilience through song, sharing rituals and yes, joy… the fans showed it all. All in the face of the cancellatoin of "just a concert."
All this and more is what we meander around every week as we shine the spotlight on joy. I believe that joy, and hope, are antidotes to fear and sadness about the state of the world.
I hope you don’t mind this impromptu meander from my kitchen, as I made coffee, and tea, and shared my thoughts with you. And please, give the article a read let me know if it gives you a little more hope in this broken, but beautiful, world of ours. The link is below.
Episode links:
“A Terrorist Plot Canceled the Show. But We Swifties Found Each Other on Cornelia Street” By Agnes Callard published in “The Free Press” August 17, 2024
Royalty free music is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-Huma