This week, Zohar is joined by acclaimed poet Rae Armantrout to talk about the meaning of influence, the importance of artistic community, how poetry is like prophecy, whether art guards against paranoia or induces it, and how to juggle aesthetic complexity with ethical commitment and political urgency.

Meditations with Zohar is sponsored by Cometeer, an exceptional new coffee company using cutting-edge technology to preserve and deliver specialty coffee in its purest, most original form. Use the link cometeer.com/zohar to get $20 off your first order.

Read more from Zohar at his Torah newsletter Etz Hasadeh or his philosophy newsletter What is Called Thinking.

Meditations with Zohar is a production of SoulShop and Lyceum Studios.