Poet Jason Allen-Paisant on Silence, Language and Releasing the Need for External Validation

Jason Allen-Paisant is a Jamaican scholar, poet and writer. His work explores how Afro-diasporic artists and communities shape their futures through embodied philosophies, focusing on the intersections of poetry and philosophy. His second book of poems, Self-Portrait as Othello won two of the most prestigious poetry prizes in the world: both the Forward Prize and the T.S. Eliot Prize – a rare feat. His debut collection, Thinking with Trees won the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Poetry and was named a Book of the Year by The Irish Times. His stunning memoir The Possibility of Tenderness: A Jamaican Memoir of Plants and Dreams was published last year, to critical acclaim. Jason is also Professor of Critical Theory and Creative Writing at the University of Manchester. In this rich conversation, Jason speaks about the silence of rural Jamaica during his childhood, how he learnt so many languages, the importance of dismantling the need for external validation, and how even finding 10 minutes to write really counts! You can check out Jason's work here: https://jasonallenpaisant.com/ and connect with him on Instagram: @jallenpaisantAbout your hosts:Tamzin Merivale is a visual artist and writer, on a mission to explore diverse stories and to guide people to process their life experiences through art. Tamzin’s visual art facilitates people in their quest to unearth their true, powerful selves — work which is unique and transformational. Tamzin’s writing was recently published in the New York Times best-selling memoir The Book of Alchemy (2025) by Suleika Jaouad, alongside Gloria Steinem, Elizabeth Gilbert, Salman Rushdie and more. Subscribe to Tamzin’s Newsletter here or follow her on Instagram @tamzinmerivale.Finola Merivale is a composer of acoustic and electro-acoustic music, based between France and Ireland. She is currently a 2025–26 Fellow at Columbia University’s Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris. Her music has been described as “edgy and discomforting, yet exciting and distinctive,” and "a wild ride." Finola completed her DMA in Composition at Columbia University. Recent accolades include fellowships from MacDowell (2025) and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation (2024), a 2025 Music Bursary from the Arts Council of Ireland and an award from the New York Council on the Arts. Her music has been performed internationally. Follow Finola on Instagram @finolamerivale.Audio editing and production by Finola MerivaleMusic by Finola Merivale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.