Jason Reynolds — On Hopelessness, the Virtue of Stamina, and Showing Grace to Ourselves

On Being with Krista Tippett

On Being Studios

Sociology, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Krista Tippett, Arts, Culture, On Being, Society, Society & Culture, Science, Social Sciences

4.7 • 10.2K Ratings

🗓️ 19 March 2026

⏱️ 52 minutes

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Summary

From Krista: I was longing for a deep dive on the radiant and common-sense hope that Jason Reynolds embodies after I interviewed him at a Georgetown event last year. I got my chance at the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival. Jason’s perspective is so urgent for the world we've now walked into: on giving ourselves grace to be hopeless, the virtue of stamina, and the hope that stays strong in him from his life in relationship with the very young in our midst — "the arbiters and purveyors of the future" — as well as an occasional stranger in a bar. Jason himself is preternaturally wise as well as talented and kind and humble. He's become a friend across the years and is one of my favorite people in the world.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I was longing for a deep dive on the muscular hope that Jason Reynolds embodies after I interviewed him at a Georgetown event last year.
0:11.6	I got my chance at the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival.
0:17.0	This is going to be a short introduction because I want to get you quickly to soak up Jason's
0:22.8	perspective that is so urgent for the world we've walked into now on giving ourselves grace
0:30.3	to be hopeless, the virtue of stamina, and the hope that stays strong in him from his life in relationship with the very young in our midst,
0:40.9	our future incarnate, as well as his encounters with the occasional stranger in a bar.
0:48.2	I'm Krista Tippett, and this is On Being.
0:54.2	As our event began, our Aspen host introduced Jason as a best-selling author, champion of young people,
1:02.0	and yes, a MacArthur genius, but also that what sets Jason apart is not only his extraordinary
1:08.7	talent, but his wisdom. And that's where we set forth.
1:15.2	It's true, Jason. I think of you as kind of Exhibit A that you don't have to be old to be wise.
1:23.3	Well, I'm not young either, so there is that. Wait, you are. I'm middle-aged.
1:28.8	It's 41, people.
1:30.7	That's middle-aged.
1:33.0	Okay.
1:33.6	I don't know if y'all know much about black folk.
1:37.6	That's middle-aged.
1:38.8	There you go.
1:39.4	Okay.
1:40.2	We were just talking about the evolution of aging.
1:43.6	Yeah.
1:43.9	I'll talk to you in 10 years and see how you feel.
	...

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