On studentship, using your art to heal, and becoming heavy enough to hold it all.

Kiese Laymon is the author of three books, most recently the NY Times bestselling memoir, Heavy: An American Memoir. He is a Professor of English born and raised in Jackson Mississippi.

• The places we stay [3:26]
• What inspired Kiese to write Heavy to his mother [5:05]
• The consequences of masking pain [7:18]
• How learning requires failure [11:31]
• Parenting and secrets [14:25]
• The importance of tender touch [18:25]
• What does it mean to repair damage done? [21:43]
• The overlapping problems with police [25:19]
• Gambling addiction and recovery [29:50]
• Kiese's Grandmother. Embodying love. Heavy enough [36:03]

Resources

Heavy by Kiese Laymon Kiese Laymon on Dani Shapiro's podcast Family Secrets