#114 On Grief, Belonging & Intimacy: David Whyte & Gayle Karen Young

Sounds of SAND

Recorded live at a SAND Community Gathering (December 2024) hosted by Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo.

In this intimate conversation with poet and philosopher David Whyte and his wife, cultural architect Gayle Karen Young, explore the tender territories of grief, belonging and rest.

Drawing from David’s new book Consolations II, this unique dialogue offers a glimpse into how two lives intertwine in both understanding and living these essential human experiences and how loss and heartbreak can become doorways to deeper belonging.

The conversation weaves together poetry, contemplative wisdom, and the authentic experience of two people who have walked the path of partnership through its many thresholds. It offers both practical insight and spiritual nourishment for anyone seeking to understand how we grow through love’s many faces—from its first tender beginnings to its most profound depths of kinship.

David Whyte, raised between his Irish mother’s imaginative influence and his father’s Yorkshire landscapes, now calls the Pacific Northwest home. He is the author of twelve books of poetry and five books of prose, holding a degree in Marine Zoology and bringing rich experience from his years as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leader of expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalaya.

Gayle Karen Young is a cultural architect and catalyst for human and organizational development who believes the world needs leaders who are “able for” what lies ahead. With over two decades in leadership development, she focuses on both the visible, practical aspects of leadership and the invisible work of creating spaces where others can thrive.

Topics:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:37 Meet the Guests: Gayle Karen Young and David Whyte

02:41 The Power of Poetry and Reflection

03:37 Exploring Grief and Intimacy

09:02 Collective Grief and Global Suffering

27:20 The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership

30:14 Exploring Grief and Progressive Patriotism

30:52 The Everyday Invitation to Vulnerability

31:42 Understanding the Path of Care

35:34 The Seasonality of Care and Grief

39:19 The Overwhelming Nature of Modern Connectivity

41:53 The Essence of Loving Your Neighbor

43:32 The Bell and the Blackbird: An Irish Koan

52:04 The Importance of Silence and Relationship

54:33 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude

Resources:

David Whyte’s Website

Gayle Karen Young’s Website

David’s new book Consolations II

Mary Frances O’Connor - The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss

Martin Prechtel - The Smell of Rain on Dust: Grief and Praise

Dacher Keltner - Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life

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