Interviews

To find interviews on specific books, use the buttons below:

November 4, 2021

Looking within, paradox, and the transformative power of friendliness.

With the wonderful Fiona Moore I was delighted to explore kurals 621 and 622 from chapter 63 of THE KURAL, “Not Being Defeated by Adversity.”

Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:

Fiona explores the gift of really staying with a single verse or two: 6:02
Paradox and the path of healing and awakening: 10:07
The radical possibility of treating adversity as a friend: 14:53
A question from Fiona for Thomas on how it was to take on this project: 32:38

Here are the two verses we talked about, in both English and Tamil:

From chapter 63, “Not Being Defeated by Adversity.”

Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston

THE SONG AND THE SILENCE: TALKING WITH SHIN YU PAI

March 5, 2021

I recently had a wonderful, far-reaching conversation with my friend, the poet, artist, speaker, and curator Shin Yu Pai. Our talk explored embodiment, mothering, teachers, and the practice of devotion, and was published today in The Rumpus:

https://therumpus.net/2021/03/the-rumpus-interview-with-shin-yu-pai/

Lyric World: Shin Yu Pai with Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma and Melanie Noel

January 30, 2020

How can poetry expand our understanding of civic life? Poet and former Town Hall Artist-In-Residence Shin Yu Pai invites us to the first of her Lyric World discussions, exploring the role of poetry as it stokes our curiosity and gives voice and attention to the human experience.

Joining in conversation with Seattle-based poet Melanie Noel, Pruiksma illuminates the ways that different languages alternately obscure or reveal truth. Together they ask us to suspend our judgement and embrace the not-knowing that defines these art forms.

Before their discussion, experience a performance by kora player and griot-trained jeli Ibrahim Arsalan. In West African society, the jeli preserved ancient stories and traditions through song, throughout the generations. They are believed to have deep connections to spiritual, social, and political powers.

Lyric World: Conversations with Contemporary Poets

November 30, 2019

I’m deeply honored to help inaugurate Lyric World: Conversations with Contemporary Poets, a new event series sponsored by Town Hall and curated by Shin Yu Pai.

On January 30, 2020, I’ll be reading and speaking about poetry and wonder. Jali Ibrahim Arsalan will also perform West African kora music and the poet Melanie Noel will facilitate an on-stage conversation.

Learn More and Buy Tickets

Kai Curry of the Northwest Asian Weekly recently featured the series in an article:

“Town Hall Seattle and KUOW series highlights AAPI poets”

The Seattle Review of Books also featured the event on their website:

Literary Event of the Week: Lyric World at Town Hall Seattle

And Paul Nelson of Seattle Poetics LAB recently interviewed me and curator Shin Yu Pai. You can read the interview in the South Seattle Emerald:

Shin Yu Pai’s Poetry Series Gets a Dose of Magic With Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

You can watch a video of the interview here:

Vintage J & B Edges Interview

March 6, 2019