Episode
The bittersweet joy in longing | Susan Cain
25:13
Published: Thu Aug 11 2022
Description
Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days? In this profound, poetic talk, author Susan Cain invites you to embrace the feeling of longing -- or the place where joy and sorrow meet -- as a gateway to creativity, connection and love. Accompanied by the splendid sounds of violinist Min Kym, Cain meditates on how heartache unexpectedly brings us closer to the sublime beauty of life. Afterwards, hear a sneak peak from a conversation with Cain on Amanda Palmer's podcast The Art of Asking Everything, where they discuss her new book "Bittersweet." This episode is part of the TED Talks Daily summer book club, a series featuring talks and interviews to inspire your next great read.
Chapters
In this podcast, author Susan Cain talks about how despite being ambitious and on the verge of making partner, she followed her longing to become a writer.
00:00 - 01:46 (01:46)
Summary
In this podcast, author Susan Cain talks about how despite being ambitious and on the verge of making partner, she followed her longing to become a writer. She believes that following your longing can be a powerful and meaningful guide in life.
EpisodeThe bittersweet joy in longing | Susan Cain
PodcastTED Talks Daily
We crave for a state of longing, a joyful-sorrowful blend, triggered by exquisite experiences that seem to come from other worlds, but only last a moment, leading to our stubborn conviction that we come from a perfect and beautiful world beyond our reach.
01:46 - 10:24 (08:37)
Summary
We crave for a state of longing, a joyful-sorrowful blend, triggered by exquisite experiences that seem to come from other worlds, but only last a moment, leading to our stubborn conviction that we come from a perfect and beautiful world beyond our reach.
EpisodeThe bittersweet joy in longing | Susan Cain
PodcastTED Talks Daily
Vedran Smilovic, the lead cellist of the Sarajevo Opera, played Albinoni's Adagio in G minor on a mound of rubble in honor of 22 people killed the morning before as they lined up for bread.
10:24 - 16:23 (05:59)
Summary
Vedran Smilovic, the lead cellist of the Sarajevo Opera, played Albinoni's Adagio in G minor on a mound of rubble in honor of 22 people killed the morning before as they lined up for bread.
EpisodeThe bittersweet joy in longing | Susan Cain
PodcastTED Talks Daily
In this podcast, the speaker highlights how we are divorced from spiritual longing due to our secular culture or traditional religious rituals, and how asking is a soulful expression of need, want, desire and the fear and pain that come along with it.
16:23 - 21:43 (05:20)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker highlights how we are divorced from spiritual longing due to our secular culture or traditional religious rituals, and how asking is a soulful expression of need, want, desire and the fear and pain that come along with it. They also talk about why people like sad music and how scholars across psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy explore this phenomenon.
EpisodeThe bittersweet joy in longing | Susan Cain
PodcastTED Talks Daily
Making art is an act of longing and devotion to create a beautiful masterpiece.
21:43 - 25:06 (03:22)
Summary
Making art is an act of longing and devotion to create a beautiful masterpiece. Regardless of the outcome, the devotion put into creating it is what truly matters.