Episode 155: Emerging Form Guests Share Their Words for 2026

After our end of the year episode, in which we talked about the words we had chosen as our theme for the year, we asked a bunch of Emerging Form guests to tell us their word. We were overwhemed by the response! We had so many great submissions that we decided to make them into a stand alone episode. Here are the contributors, in order of appearance.

Andrea BarrettBonnie TsuiMaria KelsonAlison LutermanAlex HutchinsonAdam BeckerBil LeppChris DuffyDavid BaronDavid EpsteinDiana HillKristin Pedemonti Lisa GardinierMichael Kleber DiggsSherry Richert BelulStarre VartanTodd Mitchell

Kyra Kopestonsky with us at KOTO radio recording the theme music for Emerging Form. We’re so grateful that we will continue to have a little piece of her on every show.

Litby Rosemerry

for Kyra

Tonight when I light the candle

and say your name, I notice

how you have lit me—

with your words, your voice,

the way you clap your hands

at the smallest of joys.

Because you’ve given me

light you’ve gathered from

the darkest of places,

I will never be the same.

Again and again, you have lit me

as if my life is beeswax

and love is the wick and

your courageous life is flame.

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