CAN WE TALK?

The conversation between author, journalist and climate activist Bina Venkataraman and Christopher Lydon, revered host of WBUR and NPR’s “The Connection” and “Open Source” took place before a full-house at the Shalin Liu Performance Center – shortly before COVID-19 ended all gatherings. Manship Artists is grateful to Ken Kinna of B-Roll Films who filmed the event; watch the interview highlights by clicking here.

The conversation takes an almost Socratic form, with Lydon questioning Venkataraman’s decision to remain optimistic despite all the current threats to our existence. Lydon’s is the voice of all of us who feel helpless in the face of global threats like the Corona Virus and climate change. He asks Venkataraman how she can justify her optimism in what she acknowledges is a “reckless age.” Drawing on her recent book, The Optimist’s Telescope, she cites examples, drawn from many parts of the world, of disasters averted by forward-thinking individuals and communities. Her optimism stems from her belief that we can still choose to do better if we learn to think ahead.

The message – and challenge – that Venkataraman poses for us is to think of ourselves, no matter how old – or young – we are, as ancestors as well as descendants – to ask ourselves what is it that we, as individuals and as communities, will leave to those who come after us. It is a dare worth taking.

This program was funded by the Prometheus Circle, a donor-giving society of the Manship Artists Residency + Studios. Manship Artists is also grateful to the following who helped in many ways: Tony Beadle, Rockport Music; Ken Kinna, B-Roll Films; Gail McCarthy, The Gloucester Daily Times; Rick Moore, Connections Podcast; Stephen Bridges, Bridges Design; Esther and Chris Pullman; Mary and Harry Hintlian; 1623 Studios; Arwen Severance + Charlee Bianchini, The Bookstore of Gloucester; Tzar Fedorsky.