In Volume Four: Chapter Fourteen, we welcome Teaching Artist, Poet, Performance Poet, Writer, Advocate, Author of the poetry collection Carnival, and co-founder of the Spoken Lit Movement, a Los Angeles-based arts organization designed to uplift and support poets both in and out of  L.A. , Alyesha Wise. Alyesha is a published poet and TEDx speaker…

In Volume Four: Chapter Thirteen, we welcome teaching Artist, Poet, Performance Poet, Writer, Advocate, and Author of the upcoming poetry collection Refuse To Disappear, Dr. Tara Betts. Kankakee, IL born and Chicago-based Dr. Betts is the Author of two full-length poetry collections Arc and Hue and Break the Habit, and has published a number of…

In Volume Four: Chapter Twelve, we welcome North Carolina-based Poet, Writer, Life Coach, Animal Advocate, and Entrepreneur, Jolanda Malone. Jolanda’s non-profit organization Beartha was founded in January 2001 and named in honor of her grandmother Bertha. She says of living with her grandmother “growing up in the South Bronx we lived in a house that…

In Volume Four: Chapter Eleven, we welcome Poet, Spoken Word Artist, Author of the Chapbook Sprig of Lilac, Kelsey Bigelow. Her debut spoken word album Depression Holders and Secret Keepers is available now via all streaming platforms and via her website. Kelsey Bigelow is based in Des Moines. She aims to be the motivator and…

In Volume Four: Chapter Ten, we welcome Teaching Artist, Poet, Spoken Word Artist, Slam Poet, and Author of the book The Autobiography of Absence, Ephraim Nehemiah. A published writer, educator and nationally touring performer. Their work sits comfortably in the Black cultural lineage of griots who are dedicated to using truth to document and critique…

In Volume Four: Chapter Nine, we welcome Vanessa Verse. Vanessa was born and raised in South Seattle, Washington. Both of her parents are from the Philippines and immigrated to the states. Coming from a Filipino family, talking about feelings and emotions was uncommon in the household. Turning to poetry was an outlet when she felt…

In Volume Four: Chapter Eight of The Podcast, we welcomed Educator, Poet, Spoken Word Artist, Author of the book God, Love, Death, and other Synonyms, and 2021 Richmond Virginia Poet Laureate, Roscoe Burnems. Richmond Virginia native, Douglas Powell/Roscoe Burnems is a poet, published author, spoken-word artist, comedian, educator, father, husband, and Richmond, VA’s inaugural poet…

 In Volume Four: Chapter Seven of The Podcast, we welcomed Poet, Writer, and Author of the book Hypethically the Craziest Shit I’ve Ever Done, T.C. Blackwell. TC is a novelist, publisher, and lifelong storyteller. Her first novel “The Lies Behind My Eyes” was published in 2019. The novel is dedicated to her twin sister who…

In Volume Four: Chapter Six of The Podcast, we welcomed Poet, Playwright, Essayist, and Author of the new poetry collection Green River Valley, Robert Lashley. Robert is a 2016 Jack Straw Fellow, Artist Trust Fellow, and nominee for a Stranger Genius Award. He has work published in The Seattle Review of Books, NAILED,  Poetry Northwest,…

In Volume Four: Chapter Five of The Podcast, we welcomed Educator, Poet, Spoken Word Artist, Author of the book Side Effects of Remembering the Litte Things, and the 2019 Portland Grand Slam Champion, Bella. Connect with Bella: IG: @bella_soul_ Recorded spoken word performances in this Chapter include: L3thal Po3t: Superhero IG: @l3thalpo3t Website: lethalpoet.net Ebony…