VS

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.

During this episode of VS, poet and multidisciplinary artist Farah Chamma joins Brittany and Ajanae. Listen in as they discuss the importance of trusting your intuition, the nuances of language, suffering and passion, as well as the necessity of defining oneself as an artist and a person. 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!Hussein Barghouthi: POETRY IN DIALOGUE THE POET HUSSEIN BARGHOUTHI part 1Hanane Hajj Ali: AMERICAN THEATRE | Hanane Hajj Ali, ‘Jogging’ for Survival in BeirutEl Rass: My BattleBerimbau: The Berimbau: Musical Instrument Or Icon Of Resistance Against Oppression?Writing prompt:Write a contrapuntal evaluating a habit or activity in your life by the ways it contributes to and relieves suffering. 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 spend time in conversation with Bettina Judd, who is an amazing poet, scholar, and Professor of African American Studies at Emory University. Join them as they discuss the validity of symbols, living out the tarot, how interior concerns shape research and experimentation, and the importance of Black, queer women seeing themselves reflected in theoretical practices.Until Next TimeHere 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: A Poet's Life and LegacyBeverly Guy-Sheftall: Words of Fire: An Anthology of African-American Feminist ThoughtClark Sisters: Karen Clark Sheard - Finally Karen Live (Full DVD)Writing Prompt: Write a research question for a part of speech. Conduct your experiment for this question through a series of poems. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During this episode of VS, Brittany and Ajanae interview poet and novelist Phillip B. Williams. Join them as they talk about the process of writing an epic novel, embracing character’s autonomy, Morrisonian poems, and the responsibility of freedom. Until Next Time: Nina Simone: To Be FreeGabriel García Márquez: What To Know About The Master Of Magical Realism & Nobel Prize Winner | TIMELove Song by Henry Dumas | Poetry FoundationWhat does it mean to be human? | Sonia Sanchez | TEDxPhiladelphiaWriting Prompt:Who is your favorite writer? Write 3 rules that seem to guide their writing. Write a poem following those rules. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jubi Arriola-Headley, a Black queer poet known for tackling humor and eroticism in her work, joins the conversation to explore the intersections of pleasure, identity, and masculinity. They discuss the power of humor in shaping relationships, reflect on societal expectations, and reveal how vulnerability enhances creativity. Jubi shares insights into her collection 'Bound', where intimacy and spirituality collide, and highlights the significance of kink in expressing joy and community, revealing the deeper layers behind her playful yet poignant poetry.

Season 8 kicks off with Brittany and Ajanae talking with Sarah Lubala, Congolese poet, and author of A History of Disappearance. In this interview, the trio discuss navigating political history and conflict, the role of matriarchal figures in her work, hope as an exercise, and writing about love without leaning into sentimentality.  Edit: In our conversation, Safia Elhillo was said to be Somali; Safia Elhillo is Sudanese- American. 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! Toni Morrison's 'Good' Ghosts : NPR The Fight & The Fiddle: Safia Elhillo on Language Warsan Shire’s Portraits of Somalis in Exile | The New Yorker Writing Prompt: Write a portrait poem, imagining a place as a matriarch. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Boycott of the Poetry Foundation and Solidarity with the Palestinian People: Ajane and Brittany discuss the ongoing boycott of the Poetry Foundation in relation to the Palestine genocide, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and clarifying their stance as contracted employees of the Foundation.