Andrea Gibson, Colorado’s 2023–25 Poet Laureate and celebrated spoken word artist, shares profound insights from their journey through illness and artistry. They explore themes of love, authenticity, and the power of self-acceptance. Gibson discusses facing mortality, finding joy in life's challenges, and embracing vulnerability. Their poetic reflections encourage listeners to connect deeply with themselves and the universe. The conversation is enriched by a moving reading of their poem, fostering an appreciation for creativity in the face of life's fleeting nature.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Transformation After Cancer Diagnosis
Andrea Gibson's cancer diagnosis transformed their lifelong fear into deep peace and love.
They felt adored by the universe and more loving toward family and self almost immediately after diagnosis.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Power of Surrendering Yes
Saying yes and surrendering to difficult moments can be a portal to immense peace and bliss.
True surrender doesn't minimize suffering but reveals the incredible fullness of life beneath it.
insights INSIGHT
Union of Self-Love and Universe
Surrendering reveals the life force of the universe within, dissolving the sense of separation.
Self-love is inseparable from loving the whole world, experienced beyond thoughts or ideas.
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Andrea Gibson, a beloved poet and artist, recently passed away. We are honored to share this special encore episode of their conversation with Tami Simon that originally aired in 2023.
Great poets expand our view—of ourselves, of each other, and of the entire universe. Andrea Gibson was named Colorado’s 2023–25 Poet Laureate for their celebrated verses on love, LGBTQ issues, spirituality, mental health, social justice, and more. Tami Simon speaks with Andrea about their approach to work and how their journey through cancer radically changed that approach.
This poignant conversation featuring Andrea’s reading of their poem, “Acceptance Speech After Setting the World Record in Goosebumps” and exploring spiritual surrender, finding joy in every instant, facing challenges, moving through grief, the life force of the universe within us, self-love and loving the whole world, trying softer (not harder), the power of relaxation, identifying the keys that open your heart, staying with our fear, activism and loosening our attachment to desired outcomes, being yourself fully, the gift of mortality, giving the present moment the cold shoulder, why authenticity is the most important thing when it comes to writing, the pull of creativity, and more.
Sounds True: Insights at the Edge 
