VS

On today’s episode of VS, Ajanae and Brittany are joined by poet Omotara James. Join them as they discuss the failure of poetry as savior, whistleblowers, art as a meet-cute, resisting shielding the speaker, and building trust with the reader. Until Next Time: Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Sharon Olds: Sharon Olds talks about her workMichaela Coel: ‘There is power in the word no’: Michaela Coel’s journey from Chewing Gum to I May Destroy You | CBC ComedyLucille Clifton: Lucille Clifton talks of her books of poems, including “Good Times”Writing Prompt: Write a confessional poem that addresses your reader directly.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s episode, Ajanaé and Brittany talk to Vanessa Angélica Villarreal! Listen in as they discuss mushrooms, quantum entanglements, borders, the ethics of daughters-memory, and the role of Fantasy and The Future in the Western literary canon. Until Next Time: Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo: Pedro Páramo | Official Trailer | NetflixJordan S. Carroll- Speculative Whiteness: Exploration Log 7: Interview with Jordan S. Carroll, author of Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right (2024)The Dragon Age Games; South of Midnight: South of Midnight - Accolades TrailerWriting Prompt: Write a poem for your favorite television or book character.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae chat with Amanda Johnston; join them as they discuss choosing joy, intentional literary citizenship, the history of Torch Literary Arts, recurring selves in the work, and existing in the here and now.Until Next Time: Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Lucille Clifton - i am accused of tending to the past by Lucille CliftonKrista Franklin - ARTIST FEATURE: KRISTA FRANKLIN - EP2Wura-Natasha Ogunji - Interview with Wura-Natasha Ogunji | "Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art"Beyonce - The Business of Being Beyoncé Knowles-Carter | GQWriting Prompt: In the spirit of Amanda’s Praisesong project, choose a member of your community and write a praisesong or ode to them. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Season 9! On today’s episode of VS, Brittany and Ajanae chat with Chet’la Sebree about love, the origin of words and theory, chronic illness, vulnerability, and using language to explore our curiosities. Until Next Time: Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Natasha Tretheway: Natasha Trethewey’s Poems Take Wing on Intimate Details - The New York TimesShara McCallum FIELD STUDY: CHET'LA SEBREE IN CONVERSATION WITH SHARA MCCALLUMAllison Saar : #5WomenArtists Spotlight: Alison Saar - English with Audio DescriptionWriting Prompt: Research the etymology of a word and write a poem tracing its origin and evolution. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For this episode, Brittany and Ajanae had the privilege of talking with Yona Harvey and Mahogany Browne LIVE at Furious Flower 2024! Join them as they discuss the importance of community spaces, what they’ve learned from sistering and being sistered, finding affirmation in each other’s poetry, the process of shifting genres, navigating the tension between public personas and interior lives, and the misperception of being mean.Until Next Time:Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!MahoganyFannie Lou Hamer: Fannie Lou Hamer's Powerful Testimony | Freedom SummerSonia Sanchez: A Word with Sister Sonia Sanchez | Wildest DreamsJune Jordan: I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies by June Jordan - Poems | Academy of American PoetsYonaSister: sisters | The Poetry Foundation Mary Lou Williams: Introducing...Mary Lou WilliamsSonia Sanchez: Sonia Sanchez - Poem for Some Women - live @ Def PoetryWriting Prompt:Write a poem in response to a poem that affirms you.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s episode of VS, Brittany and Ajanae speak with Alexa Patrick about all things nostalgic. Join them as they discuss playfulness as a craft tool, memory as a poetic foundation, the harms of being the only, prom season, desire, and having a crush on everything!Until Next Time: Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Morgan Parker: Award-winning poet Morgan Parker talks motivation behind new essay bookToi Derricotte: Toi Derricotte: Creativity in Isolation, part 1 of 3Hilary Duff: MetamorphosisWriting Prompt: Write an ode to your favorite coming of age ritual. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae talk with Ayokunle Falomo, author of the poetry collection Autobiomythography Of. Join them as they discuss the intertwining of mythology, time, and history, as well as the responsibilities of parenthood, keeping secrets, and navigating the multiplicity of the self. Until Next Time: Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Lucille Clifton - Lucille Clifton, The Killing of the TreesJames Baldwin- Where To Start With James Baldwin | The New York Public LibraryAṣa - Aṣa - Good Thing (Official Video)Ai Ogawa - Ai | The Poetry FoundationWriting Prompt: Write a contrapuntal with two different origin stories for yourself or someone else.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During today’s interview, Brittany and Ajanae sit down with Sarah Ghazal Ali. Listen in as they discuss writing as a spiritual practice, honoring matrilineage, the importance of disbelief, the failed project of purity, and the generative force of fixed forms.Note: this episode was originally recorded in fall of 2024. Until Next Time: Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Mary Szybist: Mary Szybist Accepts the 2013 National Book AwardAGHA SHAHID ALI: Remembering Agha Shahid AliFarida Khanum: Farida Khanum in concert : Malika-e-Ghazal in IndiaWriting Prompt: Write a litany of doubts or disbeliefs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae have the pleasure of talking to poets and artists Tank (from Tank and the Bangas) and Jamila Woods. Tank and Jamila take time before their tour to talk with our VS hosts about their entryways into poetry, how place influences their sound, the questions they hold in their minds while creating, and of course, how poetry intersects with the rest of their creative practice. Until Next Time: Here’s a writing prompt to accompany your experience of the episode to tide you over until we meet again! Writing prompt: Revisit one of the earliest poems of yours that you can find. Write a poem in response to it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daad Sharfi, a Sudanese poet and public defender in New York, dives deep into the interplay between memory and identity. She discusses how poetry becomes a vessel for reconstructing memories, often influenced by sensory experiences. The conversation takes a poignant turn as they explore the absurdities of the legal system, particularly in immigration cases. Daad also reflects on the challenges of writing and finding community, while honoring the impacts of war on memory and environment. Her insights weave together the personal and collective, spotlighting the power of art in advocacy.