Former US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Explores Jazz and Poetry in 'Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace'
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Joy Harjo, former U.S. Poet Laureate, joins 'All Of It' for a listening party and conversation about her debut album with Smithsonian Folkways, 'Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace.' The album, a fusion of jazz and poetry co-created with Grammy-winning musician Esperanza Spalding, emerged organically from collaborative improvisation in a church studio, with Harjo reworking a 1994 poem into the title track. She reflects on the album’s themes of insomnia, grace, and healing in times of societal fracture, drawing inspiration from Civil War-era songs, Native traditions, and the power of the kitchen table as a sacred space. Harjo discusses her evolving understanding of voice—spanning poetry, saxophone, flute, and song—and the importance of live gathering, especially in an age of AI and digital disconnection. She also shares her fascination with the sonic frequencies of plants and the spiritual resonance of music, urging listeners to experience the album in its intended sequence for a transformative journey.
Listen to the album in order—each track is part of a deliberate, meditative arc from insomnia to grace.
Your voice is not one thing: poetry, music, and instrument playing are all expressions of the same inner voice.
The kitchen table symbolizes a sacred space where humanity is formed, grief is shared, and life is celebrated.
Collaboration with artists like Esperanza Spalding can unlock new creative dimensions that solo work cannot.
In times of crisis, poetry and music become essential tools for collective healing and perception shift.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction to the Album and the Listening Party
The episode opens with a sponsored segment for Capital.com before transitioning into the premiere of Joy Harjo’s new album 'Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace,' produced by Esperanza Spalding. The host introduces Harjo as the former U.S. Poet Laureate and sets the stage for a deep dive into the album’s creation and themes.
Origins of the Title and the Creative Process
“I was flipping through a book that I published in 1994 for something. And I came upon this poem. I totally rewrote it for the album.”
I Pray for My Enemies: Civil War Echoes and Modern Division
“We're kind of in a civil war right now. We've been in a civil war that's taking place on social media this time.”
The Role of Esperanza Spalding and Collaborative Creation
“She thinks in multi-layers of sonic qualities. And sometimes it's subtle. And that's what I appreciate about this.”
The Voice: Poetry, Saxophone, and the Kitchen Table
“The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.”
“The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.”
“We're kind of in a civil war right now. We've been in a civil war that's taking place on social media this time.”
“AI. I think that's the biggest one. Or I listened to a little bit of the previous show about lying. The question, too, about what is... You know, what is art? Who is an artist? What is lying?”
Host
Guest
Joy Harjo
person
Esperanza Spalding
person
Smithsonian Folkways
organization
The Slowdown
media
Ford Fellowship
organization
Capital.com
organization
Maggie Smith
person
Ganeva
person
Matthew Stevens
person
Justin Tyson
person
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