How reading can transform your life (w/ Reginald Dwayne Betts)

“We have tried to create a system devoid of beauty, and it has failed. We have never tried to create a system that is replete with beauty and ask us what it might do.” Reginald Dwayne Betts is a poet, a lawyer, and a prison reform advocate. In this episode, he joins Chris to discuss the detrimental effects of prison systems and how lack of resources and the lack of beauty in prison perpetuates dehumanization. Reginald and Chris also share their favorite poems and books and discuss Reginald’s work with the Freedom Library to bring books to prisoners and correction officers. Poems and Books Mentioned From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee won’t you celebrate with me by Lucille Clifton Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden Failing and Flying by Jack Gilbert The Forgotten Dialect of the Heart by Jack Gilbert A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles under a soprano sky by Sonia Sanchez For Freckle-Faced Gerald by Etheridge Knight Featured guest Follow Reginald on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at FreedomReads.org Buy Felon: Poems and Doggerel: Poems Connect with the team Follow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.com Buy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDPods Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts Fill out our survey at bit.ly/BHSurvey6 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.