Ep. 167: Practicing Hope: The Pros and Cons of Looking Forward
In this episode, Ben and Jamesa take a close look at hope — not as a feeling to perform or a wish to hold onto, but as an active practice of staying engaged with life when outcomes are uncertain. They explore the real benefits of hope: how it sustains meaning, drives action, and keeps us connected to others. But they also sit with the harder questions — when does hope become avoidance, pressure, or even a quiet form of denial? Along the way, they share stories that ground the conversation in the real world, from young inventors tackling environmental crises to the people and communities that keep Ben and Jamesa themselves moving forward. If hope is less about optimism and more about how we orient ourselves toward what matters, this episode is an invitation to practice it more honestly.
Learn more about their organizational leadership work at www.benandjamesa.com
Learn more about the Ben and Jamesa Podcast at www.BenandJamesaPod
