Dear friends,

By the time you read this, the first episode of the new season of On Being shows will be in the world. Maybe you will already have listened. How exciting for me to hold that in mind as I write.

I’m a little surprised to say this, but I am having more fun doing this than ever before. The show production pause of the last half year (which was of course full of all kinds of other making) has allowed us to come back with fresh eyes and hearts and love for the work. And producing three months of new shows in a row and in real time like this has meant that the guests and their ideas and wisdom come into conversation very dynamically with each other. Themes, discoveries, and insights build and layer. That is exhilarating to be part of, and I think you'll notice it, too, as the season unfolds.

I interviewed the social psychologist Dacher Keltner before the end of the year, and we all heard right away that this would be our opening offering of the season. I’ve been following and connecting with Dacher for years, waiting for the thrilling science he’s been pursuing around “awe” to come to a point where he could share and talk about it.

This conversation was full of revelation for me, which you will hear. I had a real epiphany about how this science of awe, and the moment-to-moment practices it invites, offers a vigorous companion to all the other ways we are learning to calm and ground ourselves amidst the stress of being alive in this time. I will leave it to you to hear how this landed for me, and to have your own epiphanies. Suffice it to say, this is a beautiful hour with an effervescent human being, full of gifts for us all.

A word, finally, on that word “hour.” It has been our practice across the years to offer the unedited interview in our podcast feed as well as the produced show. We did this in large part because we were working with very strict time limits — the public radio “clock” — and had to shave every interview to 40-45 minutes to fit. This was always painful and laborious, but we’re released from it now. We won’t offer the unedited every week this season, but may put it in the podcast feed from time to time — and we’ll assess this as we go.

The science of awe has some unusual metrics, which I am learning to treat with a new reverence: tears, chills, and goosebumps. These are deep bodily compasses for what really matters. I’m feeling a bit goosebumpy this week, and as I sign off on this note. I’m grateful as always for your presence along this ride. It is fun to write this: I hope you enjoy this week’s show!