Hope Is A Muscle with Mary Chapin Carpenter

I’ve been a fan of her intelligent, deeply moving music for years, so it does not surprise me in the least that Mary Chapin Carpenter has shared her talent for observing the human condition with podcast listeners. The show’s focus - hope - only makes me admire her more, given the times we are living in. Her questions are specific and smart and she actually listens to what is being said with no apparent agenda except to find inspiration herself in the person on the other side of the table. This podcast is the antidote to the despair and confusion and chaos that we face in so many areas of life.

Such wonderful, thought provoking conversation between two of my all time favorite artists. Excellent timing on the release as I think we may all be having to dig a little deeper to find hope these days.

I very much enjoyed all three episodes of Sarah Kay’s interview with Mary Chaplin Carpenter. I felt a little bit like I was eavesdropping on two best friends talking in a coffee shop. The honesty. The discussion of feeling insecure in your success was lovely. I’m also fascinated by just listening to two successful creative people discuss their perspectives on creating your art. I am so very much not an artist. I haven’t an artistic gene in my body. I’m an engineer and lawyer by training. The closest I can come to being creative is inventing things as an engineer. (And sometimes inventing legal arguments.) But listening to you both, I realize I just think about things differently. And I think I have missed out on some of life’s joys that artists experience. If we all were to stand on my beach and watch a colorful sunset over the water, you and MCC would not just see the beauty, but you would paint a picture of it with words and MCC would paint a picture with words and music. I would think the sky was pretty with its pink hues. But I would not in any way be able to paint a picture to describe it. My mind would probably wander to thinking about how air pollution - especially particulate matter from burning fossil fuels and forest fires and volcano eruptions - was what was refracting the sunlight and creating the pretty colors. I didn’t mean for it to sound quite so sad. I just tend to think in terms of science instead of art. But I realize I am missing some of the enjoyment I could be experiencing if I could view more things from something like an artist’s perspective. Most of my friends are Engineers and lawyers too so they won’t be very helpful. I’m getting ready to sign up for Medicare next year, so In MCCs words, I’m afraid I’m being “late for my life”. I think I need to find and listen to more artist discussions. I need to work on getting new perspectives. Thank you for setting me on a new path. I have much to learn. Fortunately, I love learning.

Just listened to episodes 1 & 2 yesterday, then listened to them both again today b/c they are so deep, thoughtful, & reflective. Part biography/autobiography, part therapy session, part writers’ workshop. Simply amazing! Excited to hear episode 3 soon! MCC is THE song-writer of my generation! Sarah Kay is a gifted writer & interviewer. She somehow knew to ask all the questions I had & then some! I wish this was a weekly series!