Episode Description

For episode 130 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks Joél Leon.

Joél is a performer, author, and storyteller who writes and tells stories for Black people. Born and raised in the Bronx, Joél specializes in moderating and leading conversations surrounding race, masculinity, mental health, creativity and the performing arts, with love at the center of his work and purpose. He is the author of “Book About Things I Will Tell My Daughter” and “God Wears Durags, Too.”

This is the third episode of the Real Change Podcast series. In this conversation, Joél and Sharon discuss love as an agent of change in the world, reclaiming it from its more often romantic definitions. Joél shares how he came to Buddhist teachings and how they have affected his life and art, especially now, during the Coronavirus quarantine in NYC. They discuss many of the themes in Real Change, especially the role that art plays in social change movements, and how differently that is viewed in eastern versus western cultures. The conversation closes with Joel leading a short guided meditation practice.

Additional Resources

Learn more about Joél’s work, you can visit his website.

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